No. 21 West Virginia (3-1-2) concluded their two match road trip on Sunday, with a big 1-0 last minute victory over No. 25 Samford (3-2-2) in Auburn.
The story of the game was once again Mountaineers goalie Kayza Massey who again was excellent, recording another four saves and a clean sheet. The Mountaineers have recorded clean sheets in their last two matches, and their fourth of the season. The Mountaineers recorded 13 shots in the match, but only forced Samford keeper Morgan McAslan to make 3 saves.
Lauren Segalla was the hero for the Mountaineers, as last season’s leading goal scorer was able to find the back of the net for the first time this season in the final minute to give West Virginia the win.
The first 17 minutes of the match was a quiet affair, with both teams trying to feel each other out. The first quality look of the match came in the 18th minute when Mountaineers forward Dilary Heredia-Beltran got the ball at the top of the 18 yard box, but fired a shot just over the bar.
A few minutes later, Samford would find themselves with a prime opportunity to take the lead, when they got behind West Virginia’s defensive back line and fired a shot on target, but Mountaineers goalie Kayza Massey was able to save the chance.
Samford would threaten again in the 32nd minute, when Nikki Bario lofted a shot towards the top right corner of the net, but once again Massey made the save to keep the game level.
Those would be the only real chances of the first half, as West Virginia out-shot Samford 6-5 in the first half, but was unable to put any on target. Samford was able to force Mountaineers keeper to make four saves in the first half, and she made all of them to head to the half scoreless.
West Virginia came out aggressive in the second half looking to break the scoreless tie, and they would get an excellent opportunity 10 minutes in the half, when Chloe Adler put a shot towards the top of the net, but Samford keeper Morgan McAslan tipped the ball over the bar for a corner where WVU couldn’t find the back of the net.
West Virginia kept up their pressure, able to find shooting opportunities, but much like in the first half struggled to find the target. It remained scoreless, until the final minute when West Virginia was awarded a free kick in Samford territory and Jordan Brewster set up Lauren Segalla for her first goal of the season to break the scoreless tie, and the win.
The Mountaineers will return home for their next match on Thursday, when they take on Clemson at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium at 7 p.m.
Photo By Wesley Shoemaker, Blue Gold Sports
