WVU snaps winning streak for women's soccer squad

The Syracuse University women’s soccer team (6-5-3, 5-3 Big East) lost Sunday to the No. 22 West Virginia Mountaineers (11-4-0, 7-1-0 Big East) in Morgantown, W.V., 5-1. The loss snapped SU’s four-game winning streak, its longest of the season.

The offense, which scored multiple goals in three of its last four games, scored only once Sunday, a goal by forward Jenna Rickan in the 89th minute. Syracuse’s offense was only able to record six shots (four on goal) for the game.

After shutting down opposing offenses all season in Big East play, the defense gave up a season-high five goals Sunday. The squad allowed 18 shots, 11 of them on goal.

The Mountaineers struck first with a free-kick goal by Blake Miller in the 29th minute. WVU netted its second goal of the game courtesy of Morgan Betscher to take a 2-0 lead at halftime.

The second half saw even more domination by West Virginia. Meghan Lewis netted the third goal of the game in the 47th minute, followed by two more Mountaineer goals in minutes 56 and 62. 

The Orange collapsed even further after West Virginia netted its fifth goal by receiving three yellow cards. Syracuse defender Kayla Afonso received a yellow card in the 67th minute that led to a West Virginia penalty kick. Amanda Hamilton and Tina Romagnuolo also earned yellow cards in the 75th minute.

Syracuse committed 14 fouls total against West Virginia.

The loss leaves SU in third place in the American Big East division behind Marquette and West Virginia. The Orange trails both teams by six points with only three games left to play this season. 

The Orange returns home to face the University of South Florida Friday at 7 p.m.