WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University women's soccer team vaulted back into the thick of the Mountain East Conference North Division chase here Wednesday night with a 3-0 shutout of division-leading Frostburg State under the lights at the West Family Athletic Complex.
    Junior forward Kaelyn Oskin scored two goals and assisted on the other as Coach Barry Christmas's Hilltoppers (1-4-1, 1-1-1) handed the Bobcats (2-3-1, 2-1-0) their first loss in conference play, leaving WLU just two points out of first place in the North.
    Layne Hartnell put West Liberty on the board in the 15th minute when the senior striker took a well-served pass from Oskin and ripped a shot into the center of the cage.
    Oskin made it 2-0 at the half, freeing herself with some nifty dribbling just inside the 18 and finishing into the top left corner for her first goal of the season.
    It didn't take long for Oskin to notch goal number two when play resumed after intermission. Hartnell had a shot blocked by a Frostburg defender inside the box but an alert Oskin collected the rebound and sent it home to conclude the scoring in the 52nd minute.
    Frostburg, which came into the match having scored a combined 13 goals in its last two outings, stepped up its offensive pressure down the stretch but Hilltopper keeper Olivia Montgomery and the WLU defense turned aside every scoring opportunity to preserve the win and the shutout.
    West Liberty outshot the Bobcats, 14-10, on the night - 7-2 in the first half - with Montgomery collecting 6 saves to earn her first shutout of the season. Sarah Vigezzi had 4 saves in net for the visitors.
    The Lady Hilltoppers will try to build on their momentum on Sunday when they travel to Fairmont State for another crucial MEC North contest. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. at Duvall-Rosier Field.
    Frostburg State                     0  0 – 0
West Liberty                          2  1 – 3      WLU: Layne Hartnell (Kaelyn Oskin), 14:10
     WLU: Kaelyn Oskin (unassisted), 38:42      WLU: Kaelyn Oskin (Layne Hartnell), 51:46      Shots: Frostburg State 10, West Liberty 14
     Saves: Frostburg State 4 (Stephanie Vigezzi 4), West Liberty 6 (Olivia Montgomery 6)
     Corners: Frostburg State 2, West Liberty 1
A: 145