Nov. 7, 2007
Box Score
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. - West Virginia scored twice in the game's first 28 minutes and held off Villanova in the second half to post a 2-0 victory over the Wildcats in a BIG EAST Tournament opening round contest played here on a cold night at Dick Dlesk Stadium here. WVU (13-5-2) advances to the BIG EAST Tournament quarterfinals at Louisville on Saturday. Villanova completes its season with a 10-9-1 record.
West Virginia carried the play in the game's opening minutes with temperatures in the high 30s. The Mountaineers scored first in the 15th minute off a corner kick. Dan Statford served a ball into the box that found Jason Bristol. Bristol then headed the ball into the top shelf of the net for his third goal of the season at 14:30.
The Mountaineers kept the pressure on as the first half continued, generating their second goal off a blast from Stratford from 25 yards out. It was a gorgeous laser that found the upper left corner of the net, beyond the reach of Wildcat goalie Jason Friel (Dublin, Pa./Pennridge High School). Pat Carroll was credited with an assist on the goal at 28:15.
The Wildcats created a quality scoring chance in the 34th minute when junior Joe Taylor (Southampton, Pa./Archbishop Wood H.S.) took a pass and dribbled inside the box, unleashing a low left footed shot that Zach Johnson had to be sharp to corral.
The first half ended with the Mountaineers in front by the count of 2-0. WVU owned an 8-3 advantage in shots in the first half, four of which were on goal. Only Taylor's shot was on goal in the first period for the `Cats.
In the second half WVU created another chance off a cross for Stratford that senior back Matt Sleece (Clifton, N.J./Clifton H.S.) got a foot on to push out of harm's way. In the 59th minute an Andy Wright header was just wide of the `Cats net as WVU continued to apply pressure.
Villanova pressed the action in an effort to close the gap and spent much of the final minutes in the Mountaineers end of the field. Sleece had a chance in the 81st minute, accepting a nice cross from senior Mike Del Guercio (Chatham, N.J./Delbarton). However, Sleece did not have time to settle the ball and his shot went over the crossbar. Senior Neil McNulty then got a head on a ball that Johnson secured in front of the net.
