Box Score BUCKHANNON – The West Virginia Wesleyan Lady Bobcats and the University of Charleston Golden Eagles battled to two 1-0 contests during the regular season with each team winning at the other teams' place.
With a lot more on the line today in the Mountain East Conference semi-finals, it was another 1-0 game between Wesleyan and Charleston.
But this time, Wesleyan defended home field as they advanced to the MEC finals with a 1-0 win.
It's always a close game and a battle with Charleston," remarked Wesleyan head coach Patrick Holguin. "Today, Charleston came ready and it's the best they played us all year.
The lone goal came in the 32nd minute when Colette Biondi (pictured on the scoring play) played a deflected ball off of Charleston keeper Zoe Zyta and knocked into the back of the net from seven yards out.
Charleston really put the pressure on the Wesleyan defense the last 20 minutes of the game.
Their best chance to score was with 32 seconds remaining when their MEC First-Team All-Conference player Holly Bigg lined up a free kick from about 20 yards out after a foul on Wesleyan, but Wesleyan keeper Lauren Duncan came up big with the save.
"We work on defending set plays all the time," Holguin said. "Lauren has the best hands in the region. She is very sure when a ball gets to her and we are all very confident in her making the save. It was scary because Bigg is their best player and she can hit a ball."
Holguin praised his senior players and their leadership after the game.
"Our seniors have really played big roles for this team for a long time," Holguin said. "They don't want to lose and they figure out ways to win."
Charleston owned an 8-3 margin in shots and a 3-2 margin in shots-on-goal.
Charleston was guilty of 13 fouls while Wesleyan was called for 11.
Duncan turned away three shots as she recorded her 10th shutout of the year.
Charleston ended their year with a 10-7-1 record. "My hats off to Charleston, they had a great year," Holguin remarked.
Wesleyan improved to 12-3-2 on the season.
They will now face Notre Dame, who prevailed over Shepherd by a 2-0 in the other semi-final game.
The game is slated for Sunday at Notre Dame with a tentative 2 p.m. kick-off.
Wesleyan defeated Notre Dame at home by a 1-0 score in overtime on Sept. 20 and tied them 1-1 at Notre Dame on Oct. 15.
"This is the game we have been wanting," Holguin concluded. "If we have any chance to continue playing after this, we have to get a result from this game. We are looking forward to it and its always a very good match-up when we play Notre Dame.
(Photo courtesy of Peter Galarneau Jr.)
