INSTITUTE, W.Va. – The West Virginia State University women's soccer team won its first game of the 2021 season against Bluefield State, 2-0, at the Shawnee Sports Complex on Friday night. The Big Blues played an unusually high line throughout the match while the Yellow Jackets continually looked to break past the defense with well-timed passes. Third-year Head Coach
Lisa Mann's tactics paid off with two goals resulting from 13 shots on target.
Senior
Brooklyn Pritt and junior
Paula Murcia were responsible for the goals in Friday's victory. Murcia's goal was the first of her career while Pritt's goal was her second as a Yellow Jacket. Pritt was also responsible for the assist on Murcia's score.
The Yellow Jackets were the aggressors from the onset while Bluefield State was content with trying to catch West Virginia State offside. WVSU fired off seven shots in the first half and forced the opposing keeper to make five saves. Pritt finally broke the stalemate in the 34th minute when she lined up a shot from a wide angle to the left of goal. The difficult shot curled around the goalie and found the right side netting to open the scoring, 1-0.
The second half was more of the same except for the Big Blues being slightly more aggressive on the attack. The West Virginia State defense was entirely up for the challenge and the one promising shot by Bluefield State in the game was spectacularly saved by
Christin Walls, who was subbed in at the start of the second period. Murcia ensured the victory for the Yellow Jackets with a goal in the 73rd minute. Pritt sent in the cross from the far right side of the pitch to the awaiting foot of Murcia who finished with a low strike into the left side netting.
The Yellow Jackets used two keepers, one in each half, with starter
Laura Galindo adding one save to the stat sheet and second-half goalie
Christin Walls making two saves to combine for a clean sheet.
WVSU launched 13 shots on goal, led by Pritt's six. In comparison, BSC only managed three shots on goal throughout the game.
West Virginia State returns to the pitch on Friday, Sept. 10 to face the Railsplitters of Lincoln Memorial in Harrogate, Tenn. at 6 p.m.
