WVU Mountaineer Sports: Basketball | Football | News |WVU Women's Soccer Scores Comeback Win In Conference Opener

A late goal in regulation from Drea Barklage and penalty kick from Blake Miller in double overtime pushed visiting West Virginia past USF, 2-1, to open BIG EAST Conference play Thursday evening at USF Soccer Stadium.

After a scoreless first half, USF took advantage of a defensive miscue, leading to a one-on-one opportunity for forward Chelsea Klotz. Midfielder Anne Vikre intercepted a soft pass and slotted a ball up the middle to Klotz who beat goalkeeper Sara Keane on the ground in the 61^st minute for a 1-0 lead.

West Virginia had an apparent neutralizer with 12 minutes to play as defender Erica Henderson flicked in a Frances Silva shot off WVU's sixth corner kick. The goal was waived off by the linesman for an offsides call to keep the score at 1-0.

The Mountaineers tied the match in the 87^th minute off the foot of Barklage. Bry McCarthy served a corner kick to the back post that was settled and quickly blasted into the back of the net to make it a 1-1 game.

In the second overtime, West Virginia earned a free kick in front of its bench, leading to scoring chance and tackle in the box. Mallory Smith drove a ball into the middle that was flicked on by Miller to a sprinting Silva. Silva took the ball inside the box and was pulled down on a scoring try to earn a penalty kick. Miller calmly converted the penalty kick at 104:03 for the game-winner.

WVU (5-3-0, 1-0-0) recorded a season-high 11 corner kicks while USF (4-3-1, 0-1-0) was held without one. The Bulls were credited with an 18-10 shot advantage, although only five were on-goal.

West Virginia returns to action with a home match against No. 8 Marquette on Sunday, Sept. 18, on Breast Cancer Awareness Day. Fans are encouraged to wear pink as the Mountaineers make a check presentation for the money raised this past spring for the Betty Puskar Breast Cancer Fund at the Mary Randolph Cancer Center.