Sept. 18, 2008

Box Score

MORGANTOWN, W.Va.--No. 14 West Virginia handed the Pitt women's soccer team its first loss in Big East Conference play with a 4-0 shutout Thursday evening in Morgantown.

The Mountaineers jumped out to an early lead in the first half. In the 8th minute, West Virginia took advantage of a corner kick taken by Nicole Mailloux. Forward Erica Henderson collected a ball flicked by Carolyn Blank and fired it into the net for the score.

West Virginia increased its lead with two additional goals for a 3-0 halftime lead. Henderson received a cross from Lisa DuCote and tallied her second goal of the night with a header from 13 yards out in the 22nd minute. With four minutes remaining in the period, Mountaineer forward Morgan Betscher shot the ball into the lower right corner of the net to record the third goal for West Virginia. Michelle Molinari was credited with the assist.

In the first period, Pitt was outshot 11-1 by West Virginia. Alexandra Jaffe took the Panthers' lone shot on goal during the opening half. However, Pitt did manage to generate chances in the second half, including a shot by Laura Berbert that deflected off of the crossbar. Jennifer Kritch also registered a shot on goal in the closing period.

In the 57th minute, West Virginia's Deana Everrett shot far post from 24 yards out to give the Mountaineers the 4-0 lead.

With the defeat, Pitt slipped to 3-5-0 overall and 0-1-0 in conference play, while the Mountaineers improved their record to 5-1-2, 1-0-0.

Pitt continues its stretch of road games this weekend as it travels to Toledo on Sunday. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.

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