Women's Soccer | 9/6/2013 12:23:00 AM
Box Score
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The West Liberty women's soccer team kicked off its season with a tough 2-1 loss to Point Park Thursday night at Highmark Stadium.
Coach Barry Christmas's debuting Hilltoppers had the better of play for much of the night against the host Pioneers (1-2) but Kelsey Wilkins' goal in the 88th minute snapped a 1-1 tie to give Point Park the win.
Following a scoreless first half, West Liberty drew first blood in the 62nd minute when Sarah Evans tucked a short strike into the top left corner of the cage for an unassisted goal.
The Pioneers knotted the score at 1-1 in the 74th minute when Leeza Tokarski found the range from just inside the 18 on an assist from Megan Kuntz.
Tokarski also figured prominently in the game-winner as it was her crossing feed that found Wilkins' foot on the left side of the box with less than two minutes left to play.
Both teams finished with 15 shots but West Liberty forced six corner kicks to just one for Point Park. Hilltopper netminder Rachel Coles was charted with 8 saves while Pioneer keeper Mackenzie Pinto turned aside 9 WLU shots.
Thursday's game was Point Park's first home game at Highmark Stadium, the brand-new home of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
West Liberty will be taking the wraps off its own new home on Saturday when the Hilltoppers host Chowan (N.C.) in the first home match ever at the West Liberty Soccer Complex.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Point Park 2, West Liberty 1
West Liberty 0 1 – 1
Point Park 0 2 – 2
Second Half
PP: Goal: Leeza Tokarski (Megan Kuntz), 73:16
PP: Goal: Kelsey Wilkins (Leeza Tokarski), 87:42
Game Statistics
Shots: West Liberty 15, Point Park 15
Saves: West Liberty 8 (Rachel Coles 8), Point Park 9 (Mackenzie Pinto 9)
Corners: West Liberty 6, Point Park 1
