WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – Malone University's Danielle Lung broke up a scoreless tie with a well-struck goal in the 85th minute here Friday night to give the unbeaten Pioneers a 1-0 win against West Liberty under the lights at the West Family Athletic Comples.
    It was a frustrating conclusion to another strong effort from Coach Barry Christmas's host Hilltoppers (0-3), who battled Malone on even terms for much of the sweltering evening but were not rewarded with a positive result.
    Neither team scored in the first half although both created chances. Malone keeper Haleigh Seman came up with a couple of big saves before the break while WLU sophomore Olivia Montgomery delivered four of her match-high nine saves in the first 45 minutes.
    The Pioneers began to tilt the field a bit more in the second half, increasing the pressure on Montgomery in the Hilltopper net while outshooting the hosts by a significant margin in the first few minutes of the second half.
    Once again, Montgomery and the Hilltopper back line were able to turn away every threat until the visitors finally broke through in the waning minutes.
    Shortly after West Liberty was unable to capitalize on a set piece deep in the Malone end, the Pioneers' counterattack produced the only score of the match.
    Lindsey Soltisz collected a throw-in near the 18 and got the ball over to Lung, who drove a ball over a leaping Montgomery just under the cross bar for a 1-0 Malone lead in the 85th minute.
    Lexie Mullen tried to answer for West Liberty in the 87th minute but Seman came up with her final save of the match to preserve the shutout and the win.
    Seman finished the night with four saves on a total of 8 shots by the Hilltoppers. Montgomery took the hard-luck loss despite being credited with 9 saves on 16 shots by the Pioneers.
     Malone (Ohio)          0  1 – 1
West Liberty              0  0 – 0      Mal: Danielle Lung (Lindsey Soltisz), 84:55      Shots: Malone 16, West Liberty 8
     Saves: Malone 4 (Seman 4). West Liberty 9 (Montgomery 9)
     Corners: Malone 2, West Liberty 4
A: 177