FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Women's Soccer team stormed past West Liberty 5-0 in their Wednesday home victory.
From the opening kick-off, it was all Bobcats, as they had 10 shots within the first 18 minutes of the game. Junior Ana Davis had the first chance of the game after being played into the box from a throw, firing just wide of the post. A mix-up at the back for the Hilltoppers nearly let juniors Mollie Rebuck and Cassidy Paige in on goal but neither could convert efforts, as Davis then drove another shot wide.
With more pressure between Rebuck and Paige, the former thought she scored the opener, however keeper Kaisa Vale was able to get a fingertip on the deflected effort to get it away from goal. Senior Madison Hinton and Rebuck then each fired off target, while somehow a combination of Vale and a defender on the line were able to deny Davis and Rebuck in what looked like a certain goal. Davis then blasted over the bar, while Paige had back-to-back chances, first heading high before rattling the crossbar on a left-footed effort that continued to keep FSU off the board.
The breakthrough finally came at the mid-way point of the period, as Davis collected a loose ball at the top of the box and played Rebuck down the left side, as she perfectly placed her shot into the bottom right corner for a 1-0 lead. After the sides took a hydration break, Frostburg ramped up their pressure again, as just two minutes of game time later, a throw-in found Paige at the center of the box, with her touch to junior Rayiah Davis setting up for a tidy pass into the same spot Rebuck finished into and doubling the advantage.
Still looking for more, Ana Davis had an effort off a corner saved by Vale before WLU got their first effort of the game after 28 minutes, which went well over the bar. As the final 10 minutes of the half approached, freshman Mia Hudson saw a shot go just wide, then another scramble in front of goal somehow left FSU without their third. Rayiah Davis got the ball inside the box on a throw and played a perfect cross to sophomore Reese Rizzo, who was denied by an outstanding save from Vale, then her follow-up effort was cleared off the line and classmate Emma Hostetler's shot was blocked by a wall of bodies to keep the ball out.
West Liberty came out of the break looking like a new team, as an early shot tested senior Mia Graff on the bounce, while an excellent chance off a corner was put over the bar by Aaliyah Siegel. The Hilltoppers created another opportunity off a free kick, as Sarah Holmes got her head onto the end of it but placed her shot right at Graff.
After being able to fend off the early pressure, FSU made their way up the other end of the field, where Ana Davis headed a loose ball into the box for Rebuck, who spun and fired on her left foot once more past Vale and into the corner for a 3-0 score. The Bobcats were able to keep WLU's attack at bay in resuming control of the game, as Hudson put a shot wide left before Ana Davis tried to put her shot into the same spot as Rebuck, though this time Vale was equal to it.
Entering the final 15 minutes of the game, junior Ainsley Wilson had the pick of the goals, as she gathered the ball on the left side at midfield and surged into Hilltopper territory before taking aim from 25 yards out and scorching the ball past Vale for her first collegiate tally. Still looking for more, freshman Hallie Stansfield had a nice couple of touches before firing at Vale, then sophomore Abbey Robrecht played a nice one-two with junior Elena Fernandez, with the former sending a cross to the back post that was met by freshman Jocelyn Smith, who easily slid the ball past Vale to also net a career-first goal and making the final score 5-0.
The Bobcats held a whopping 27-4 advantage in shots, with 13 on goal to WLU's two.
With the victory, Frostburg improves to 4-1-1 on the year, while West Liberty drops to 1-4-1. FSU will next head on the road to face Point Park on Sunday, September 20 at 1 p.m. from the campus of Duquesne University. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.
