FROSTBURG, Md. - The Frostburg State Women's Soccer team got back to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over West Liberty on Wednesday evening.
The game was played as the team's pink game, which helps to support Breast Cancer Awareness month, specifically for the FSU Relay For Life.
For the opening minutes of the game, each team played a back-and-forth battle, as the Hilltoppers forced sophomore keeper Katie Sterne into the first save of the game, as she calmly came to collect a bouncing ball in her first collegiate start. The Bobcats quickly turned up the field, with sophomore Lela Clark taking a pop at goal on a volley, which was initially saved but bobbled by WLU keeper Zara Wickert, allowing sophomore Mackenzie Alonso to react first and tap home for a 1-0 lead inside 10 minutes.
Freshman Carly Gillette and sophomore Keely Knotts were both the next to test Wickert, but neither effort was able to greatly trouble her. West Liberty continued to stay strong defensively for the majority of the half, until the final five minutes when junior Toni Fiocco-Mizer weaved her way into the box and looked certain to score, but was pulled back from behind, resulting in a penalty kick. Junior Lela Clark stepped forward and blasted her shot into the upper right corner for a 2-0 lead at the half.
The Hilltoppers came out a team on a mission in the second half, harassing the Bobcats and creating much more offense than they had in the first half. Their persistence was rewarded nine minutes in, as Mia Zecca powered a rocket over Sterne and into the top left corner to get back into the game at 2-1. FSU responded extremely well, retaking command of the contest and passing the ball around the pitch with aplomb.
A great counter-attack on 69 minutes proved to be the difference needed for Frostburg to get over the line. Graduate Abbey Dennis expertly intercepted a forward Hilltopper ball, then dribbled into WLU territory and fed Fiocco-Mizer, who played a ball down the line to Alonso, where her first touch almost let her down, but she wouldn't give up on it, dribbling between her defender's legs and firing a pass to junior Caroline Burton, who had enough time and space in the middle of the 18 to backheel home for the 3-1 lead.
Late chances found the feet of Knotts and Fiocco-Mizer, but Wickert limited the damage and junior Ashley Bilger replaced Sterne late on to complete the victory.
With the win, Frostburg improves to 11-1-1 on the year, while West Liberty falls to 4-7-1. FSU returns to the field on Sunday, October 16 for an 11 AM home match against Notre Dame (Ohio). Information and updates will be posted at frostburgsports.com.
