2006
2007
center of the field. Over the course of the season, she assisted on six of the team’s 39 goals, while Kruze, a sophomore, complemented Stoia in the midfield, adding six more assists. Building on the success of the previous season, West Virginia continued its winning ways in 2001. With Barnes leading the way, the Mountaineers again won 15 games. That season, the Mountaineers went 4-1-1 in the Big East, good enough for a second-place midAtlantic division finish. West Virginia recorded wins over Big East foes Syracuse, Rutgers, Seton Hall and Miami, but none was sweeter than the program’s first-ever win over Connecticut. Having defeated Miami in the quarterfinal round of the Big East tournament, West Virginia advanced to the semifinals for the first time in program history. Waiting for them there were the Huskies. A traditional conference and national soccer power, Connecticut owned a 6-0-0 all-time record against the Mountaineers. At the 29:03 mark, West Virginia sophomore Chrissie Abbott, on an assist from Stoia, beat UConn goalkeeper Shanna Caldwell to give the Mountaineers a 1-0 lead. It would be the only goal scored in the match as WVU held on for its first-ever win over Connecticut. With the victory, the Mountaineers advanced to the Big East championship, another first for the program. Playing against Notre Dame, WVU was down 1-0 early, but tied the match on a goal by Barnes in the 15th minute. For the next 60 minutes, the two squads battled evenly before Notre Dame’s Randi Scheller scored the game-winner to give the Fighting Irish the Big East title. The loss was devastating, but not quite as shocking as falling to Miami (Ohio) in the first round of that season’s NCAA tournament. Hosting the first and second rounds at the Mountaineer Soccer Complex, West Virginia took on the Redhawks in the first round and was defeated 1-0 on a penalty kick. West Virginia finished the season 15-5-1. Postseason honors were abundant that year as Barnes earned her second-consecutive conference offensive player of the year award and Izzo-Brown was named Big East Coach of the Year. For the second-straight season, Barnes was named All-American, earning first-team honors from the NSCAA and second-team recognition from Soccer Buzz. Stoia and
2008
2009
2010
Abbott also received conference and national recognition. With the taste of unfinished business laying sourly in their mouths, the Mountaineers set out in 2002 with something to prove. For years, it seemed, they were right there, in and out of games with soccer powerhouses. For the previous three seasons, West Virginia had suffered one-goal losses to teams the caliber of Connecticut, Notre Dame and Virginia. In 2002, that all changed. The Mountaineers racked up a nine-game win streak and an 18-match unbeaten streak on their way to the program’s first-ever regular season title. Going 5-0-1 in conference play, the Mountaineers notched the program’s first victory, 3-0, over rival Notre Dame on Oct. 6, at the Mountaineer Soccer Complex. Earlier in the season, West Virginia won at 10th-ranked Virginia, 2-1, to earn WVU’s first victory over a Top 10 program. The Mountaineers entered their third consecutive Big East tournament having shut out their last six opponents. Facing St. John’s in the quarterfinal match, West Virginia extended its shutout streak to seven with a 4-0 win over the Red Storm.
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2012
The Mountaineers defeated Rutgers, 3-2, in the semifinal match and advanced to the championship match for the second straight year, this time against Connecticut. The end result was the same, however, as WVU was edged by the Huskies, 1-0, on a penalty kick. Once again, hosting the NCAA tournament in Morgantown, West Virginia faced Loyola (Md.) in first-round action. The Mountaineers scored three goals, defeating Loyola, 3-0, to earn their first-ever NCAA tournament victory. WVU’s season ended in the next round, however, when it fell to Virginia, 1-0. Picking up where former teammate Katie Barnes left off, junior forward Chrissie Abbott had a record breaking season in 2002. The North Olmstead, Ohio, native scored 20 goals and dished out seven assists for 47 points, breaking the previous records set by Barnes in 2000. She was named Big East Offensive Player of the Year, a first team All-American by both the NSCAA and Soccer Buzz and was a finalist for Soccer Buzz’s Player of the Year award. Additionally, Abbott was named one of Soccer America’s 11 most valuable players of 2002.
Coach Nikki Izzo-Brown addresses the 1996 squad before its season opener.
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