MORGANTOWN -
Rookie Kate Schwindel scored the fastest goal in school history and junior Bry McCarthy recorded two assists in leading No. 21 West Virginia to a 3-1 victory over Georgetown Friday afternoon at North Kehoe Field.
The Mountaineers took an early 1-0 lead off the foot of forward Schwindel. Blake Miller started the play be dropping a ball into the right corner to a hustling Frances Silva. Silva took on two defenders and sent a ball on the ground across the middle. Schwindel connected on the pass, launching the ball into the upper right corner for a 1-0 lead only 55 seconds into the match.
Schwindel's second career goal marked the fastest goal scored in program's 16 seasons, topping Kambria Riggins' score in 77 seconds against New Hampshire in 2003.
"This was a big conference road win," said coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. "Winning on the road in the BIG EAST is very tough. Each team created chances and we were able to finish three. I'm proud of the effort our ladies gave today."
WVU doubled its lead on Emily Dillon's third goal of the season in the 36th minute. Drea Barklage sent a ball up the left side to McCarthy who pushed forward. McCarthy slipped past a defender and drove a ball into the mouth of the goal where Dillon slotted a ball past Hoya goalkeeper Elizabeth Hanna to make it 2-0.
Mountaineer goalkeeper Sara Keane continued her solid pay in net, this time keeping the Hoyas off the board with a big stop in the 22nd minute. Georgetown All-American Ingrid Wells got behind the back line on a through ball for a one-on-one scoring opportunity. Keane came off her line and slid through Wells' shot for the denial.
Schwindel nearly added a second goal midway through the first half on a shot to the near post from 16 yards out. Hanna dove to her right and deflected the shot out of bounds.
The Hoyas were dangerous on a possession shortly before intermission. Defender Mary Kroening used her height in the box and sent a header off the right post from a GU corner kick. She followed with a blast up the middle that was knocked down by Keane and cleared away by a Mountaineer defender.
The teams traded possessions to start the second half before Miller took WVU's first attempt of the second half. The senior weaved her way through the midfield before slotting a ball wide of the goal in the 50th minute.
Wells put Georgetown on the attack in the 56th minute after one of its well-known quick restarts following a foul. Wells' shot towards the left post was scooped up by Keane.
The Hoyas pressured late in the second half, including a header from deep inside the box by Amanda Soderlund. Keane stood firm on her line to make the stop in picking up her sixth save of the match.
Down two scores, Wells put the Hoyas on the board following an errant clear by a Mountaineer defender. Wells drove a ball into the left side of the goal in the 86th minute for her team-leading seventh goal of the season to make it 2-1.
WVU countered only 24 seconds later on Miller's team-best fifth goal of the season. McCarthy worked the ball up the left flank and served a ball into Schwindel, who flicked it to the back side to Miller. Miller finished the scoring chance for her 28th career goal and 3-1 WVU lead.
Keane finished with seven saves on 21 Georgetown shots, while Hanna made five stops on 13 West Virginia attempts.
West Virginia, winners of seven straight, improves to 9-3-0 overall, 5-0-0 in conference play. Georgetown moves to 9-4-0 overall, 3-2-0 in BIG EAST contests.
WVU improved to 13-3-0 all-time against Georgetown, including a 7-2-0 mark on the road. All 16 meetings have come in the regular season with WVU winning six of the last seven contests.
The Mountaineers return to action with a BIG EAST match at Villanova on Sunday, Oct. 2. Kickoff at West Campus Complex is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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