×

Lady Mountaineers one win from national championship

SAN JOSE, Calif. – A goal by junior forward Michaela Abam in the 74th minute propelled the No. 1 West Virginia University women’s soccer team to its first-ever NCAA College Cup Final with a 1-0 victory over No. 6 North Carolina in front of 4,293 fans at Avaya Stadium on Friday afternoon.

Making their first College Cup appearance in program history, the Mountaineers (23-1-2, 8-0) extended their unbeaten streak to 17 matches and turned in their program-record 18th shutout of the season. Additionally, West Virginia won its 23rd game, the most in team history and tied for the Big 12 Conference record.

WVU will play for its first national championship against the winner of No. 2-seeds USC and Georgetown in the College Cup Final at 6 p.m. Sunday at Avaya Stadium.

Abam’s goal, her team-leading 12th of the season, came at 73:46. The play began with a free kick on the far side of the field, where the ball was sent into the box. It bounced out to Abam on the left side of the box about 10 yards out. The junior touched once before sending the ball into the back of the net, between the keeper and the right post. It was Abam’s team-best fifth game-winning goal of the season.

Abam led the team with four shots, two on-goal. Junior forward Heather Kaleiohi registered three shots, while sophomore Sh’Nia Gordon added two shots, with one on-goal.

WVU had 13 shots, six on-goal, while the Tar Heels (17-4-4) had eight shots, none coming on goal. UNC is the third opponent WVU has denied a shot on-goal, and the first since Sept. 30.

The shutout is the eighth of the season for freshman goalkeeper Rylee Foster.

Sunday’s National Championship match will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU, with Jenn Hildreth on the call and Julie Foudy providing color.

The Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG will broadcast the match locally on WZST-FM, 100.9, Morgantown/Fairmont. Out-of-market Mountaineer fans can catch the broadcast online at WVUsports.com or on the TuneIn app through their mobile devices. Andrew Caridi will handle the call.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $3.92/week.

Subscribe Today