Lloyd's Brace Lifts Flash 2-0 over West Virginia
March 22, 2014 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Western New York Flash News Release
ELMA, NY (Saturday, March 22, 2014) - The Western New York Flash recorded its second win of the preseason on Saturday with a 2-0 win over visiting West Virginia University. U.S. Women's National Team allocation Carli Lloyd paced the way for the Flash, scoring a goal on both sides of the half for the brace.
Lloyd, who first practiced with the team on Friday, opened the scoring 24 minutes into the match. The midfielder, who finished 2013 with 10 goals, picked up right where she left off. Combining with Angela Salem, Lloyd was able to find a clear shot from 20-yards out and hammered home a low, hard shot into the bottom left corner.
Lloyd completed the brace during the game's final seconds when she bent a free kick around a five-player wall and into the left side of the net.
Five minutes before Lloyd's opening goal, trialist Yoreli Rincon took a free kick on the left side that seemed like it would be saved but was bobbled by West Virginia goalkeeper Hannah Steadman. Both Jasmyne Spencer and Amy Barczuk jumped on the ball, but it was cleared off the line by the Mountaineers' defense.
Kristen Edmonds came inches to putting the Flash up by two goals 37-minutes in after she was found on the doorstep. Connecting with a left-footed volley, Edmonds struck a hard ball on target but Steadman was able to tip it over the crossbar and out for a corner.
With time winding down in the first half, West Virginia had its best chance to equalize at the 42-minute mark. After chasing down a long ball, Kailey Utley was one-on-one with newly-acquired goalkeeper Lydia Williams. Just outside the penalty area, Williams was able to tackle the ball away, allowing time for her defense to recover and end the Mountaineer opportunity.
Early into the second half, Lloyd danced her way into the six-yard box but Michelle Newhouse, who took over in goal for the second 45, was able to stop the pointe-blank attempt.
Spencer again had an opportunity in close after a nifty pass from New Zealand international Emma Kete. Running at the right post, Kete used the outside of her foot to push the ball over to Spencer, catching the keeper out of position. However, a Mountaineer defender was able to recover at the last second to deny the empty net chance.
In the 73rd minute, Amy Barczuk was able to elevate to reach a Salem corner kick, but her effort went wide. WVU responded with a corner kick chance of its own, when Amanda Hill collected a ball in the box but, with her back to the goal, could not hit the target.
Williams and rookie goalkeeper Kelsey Wys combined for the shutout, as Wys replaced the Australian-American in the 65th minute.
The Flash will play their final preseason game on April 5 in a split match between Syracuse University and Colgate University. The game will start at 2 p.m. and will be played at the Orange's home field.
Season ticket and Flex ticket packages are now available for sale at wnyflash.com or by calling the Sahlen's Stadium box office at (585) 454-KICK.
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