DePaul University Athletics
Blue Demons Endure Another Road Setback
10/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S SOCCER
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Life on the road in the rugged BIG EAST Conference can be a daunting challenge as DePaul discovered again on Sunday.
Going through the toughest part of its schedule with four-straight road games, the Blue Demons came out on the short end of a 2-0 loss to West Virginia.
This follows up a 2-1 overtime setback at Pittsburgh on Friday night after DePaul had scored first. Next weekend, the Blue Demons are at Seton Hall on Friday night and at Rutgers on Sunday.
"We played much better today than we did on Friday," said DePaul coach Erin Chastain. "We had a lot more fight in us. The whole team gave a good effort for just about 90 minutes."
The exceptions were the Mountaineers' pair of second-half goals.
At the 53-minute, 13-second mark, Megan Mischler scored her fourth goal of the season from six yards out after a crossing pass from Bri Rodriguez.
Carolyn Blank staked out position at the mouth of the Blue Demon goal and headed in a corner kick from Nicole Mailloux at 71:27. That was her third goal of the season as West Virginia improved to 5-4-4, 2-2-1 in the BIG EAST.
"I was disappointed at the goals we gave up," Chastain said. "They were soft goals. We didn't make West Virginia earn them. Our marking wasn't good and our decision-making wasn't good."
Tara Strickland led the Blue Demon attack with three shots---two on goal---as DePaul fell to 7-5-2, 2-3-0.
"I thought we created some good scoring opportunities and at times, even dominated play," Chastain said. "I was happy with the progress we made.
"This is our toughest stretch of the season. Having to play four-straight road games in the BIG EAST is rough.
"We'll need to take advantage of finishing the regular season with four home games in a row. But we're a long way from that.
"We have to focus on Seton Hall coming up Friday, and then Rutgers on Sunday."
NOTES: Rutgers is ranked No. 13 in the nation by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and also by Soccer America... West Virginia outshot DePaul 13-6 and had five shots on goal to three for the Blue Demons... the Mountaineers outshot DePaul 12-4 in the second half... besides Strickland's three shots, Michelle Scandora, Morgan Celaya and Callie Hemming each had one shot... Carolyn Blank led the Mountaineers with four shots, two on goal... West Virginia goalkeeper Keri Butler recorded her fifth shutout of the year.
