PHILIPPI, W.Va. — The West Virginia State University women's soccer team took down Alderson Broaddus by a final tally of 3-1 in Philippi on Sunday. The Yellow Jackets (8-3-1, 7-2-1 MEC) typically play a more reserved offensive style but from the outset showed a much more aggressive offense and crushed their previous season high of 21 shots. The Battlers fall to 1-9-1, 0-9-1 in the Mountain East.
The first half started off with the Yellow Jackets offense playing aggressively, firing four shots at AB goalkeeper Olivia Kqira in the first eight minutes, one wide left, one high, one blocked and one saved. The Yellow Jackets maintained control of the ball for almost the entirety of the first 25 minutes and took seven shots through that period but only one shot managed to make it through to Kqira, which was saved. In the 24th minute, Fran Soares-Cupertino managed to tackle away an AB defensive pass and took a shot from about 30 yards away, but it sailed high and left the match scoreless.
In the 31st minute, AB was called for a foul 35 yards from goal. Soares-Cupertino took the shot and it was knocked away by Kqira. The rebound found Ingrid Barbosa de Castro's head and she put it away to put the Jackets up 1-0, and scoring her first goal of the season.
WVSU continued to fire at Kqira for the rest of the half, racking up 13 shots at the halftime whistle, but the score remained 1-0. AB played an offside trap that caught the Yellow Jackets five times in the first half, killing many potential runs on goal.
AB found their offense in the second half and got two quick shots before AB's Nataly Chauta blew one past Ashley Craigo and knotted it up at 1. In the 59th minute, AB's Destiny Keeble took a shot that tried to sneak past Craigo, but she recovered and made the goal line save that kept the score at 1-apiece.
WVSU got revenge for the corner kick goal given up when Naomi Waithira took a right-side corner kick in the 68th minute. She passed it to Montserrat Alsina who dropped it back to Waithira. Waithira fired at Kqira and tickled the twine to put the Yellow Jackets back on top 2-1.
Just eight minutes later, another corner kick opportunity was taken by Waithira and this time found Soares-Cupertino on the backside of the goal all alone and she put away the easy goal, giving the Yellow Jackets the two goal cushion.
The Yellow Jackets never took their foot off the gas, smashing shot after shot toward AB's goal eventually tallying 19 shots in the second half, 10 of which were on target before the final whistle blew.
WVSU set or matched season highs in multiple stat categories, including shots (32), shots on goal (T-13), corner kicks (8), goals (T-3), and assists (T-2). Soares-Cupertino set a single game mark for taking 10 shots on goal.
Soares-Cupertino pocketed her ninth goal of the season and took two shots on goal. Waithira collected her third assist and her third goal. Brooklyn Pritt fired six shots, three on target. Cierra Savin took five shots and put four on goal. Craigo played all 90 minutes today, made two saves and gave up one goal.
AB's Nataly Chauta took two shots and scored once. Olivia Kqira made 10 saves and allowed three goals.
The Yellow Jackets will play their next match at their new permanent home of Lakin-Ray Field at Dickerson Stadium on Wednesday against the Notre Dame College Falcons. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 pm.
