FROSTBURG — Frostburg State held West Liberty to four shots while combining for 29, leading to a 6-0 shutout win on Wednesday at Bobcat Stadium.
“I think it was kinda a business-like approach for us,” FSU head coach Brian Parker said. “We knew what we had to do, we had good scouting on this team. I think we had to be a little bit patient. They were pretty physical throughout the game. Our kids did a good job of keeping their composure and continuing to move the ball and just play soccer.”
The Bobcats (3-2-1, 1-1-1 Mountain East Conference) controlled possession for the majority of both halves, holding the Hilltoppers (0-6, 0-4 MEC) to one shot in the first half.
Frostburg attempted 15 shots in the first half and put seven on goal.
“They’re a tough, physical team,” Parker said of West Liberty. “They’re kinda built for defense, obviously trying to attack with the two high strikers. We just did a very good job of managing it and keeping our composure, keeping that ball moving and using that width. They were giving us a lot of blank space to play into our quad backs. A lot of it is taking what you’re given and take advantage of it.”
The scoring began 15 minutes in, when Cassidy Paige took a cross from Ainsley Wilson and found the bottom left corner of the net.
With just over four minutes before halftime, Elena Fernandez finished a cross from Jayme Sooy in the lower left corner to double the Bobcats lead.
The highlight of the game came with 34 minutes remaining off a cross from Morgan Mrizek.
The ball appeared to deflect off the shoulder of Ana Davis for a goal to extend Frostburg’s lead to 3-0.
“Fantastic cross in from Morgan, and Ana’s perfectly positioned,” Parker said. “It definitely hit the both of them I think. We’ll see if it’s an own goal or if they give her credit for it, but she did a good job of tracking it.”
About 14 minutes later, Mary Greco buried a penalty kick in the bottom left corner.
Now leading by four with 13 minutes on the clock, the Bobcats emptied the bench.
Of the 28 players on the roster, the only two who didn’t play were goalkeepers Ava Weibrecht and Mia Graff.
“There’s very few things I love more as a coach than being able to play everybody who’s on our team, who’s working hard every day,” Parker said. “It really deserves an opportunity.”
Northern graduate and FSU freshman Emma Hostetler entered alongside Mountain Ridge graduate Reese Rizzo, who both finished the game.
With about five minutes left, Molly Colbent sent a cross to Hostetler who scored her third collegiate goal and first against an MEC opponent.
“Molly gave an amazing header and it was just luck that I got a good touch,” Hostetler said. “And then I just slotted it in the corner.”
Hostetler was the area Player of the Year last fall, scoring 44 goals and leading the Huskies to its second semifinal appearance and first since 2007.
“It means a lot to me,” Hostetler said of representing Northern. “My team and just the school is really special to me. So the fact that I get to not only represent me, but my team and Northern as a whole, it just means a lot.”
Abby Robrecht concluded the scoring less than two minutes later.
Frostburg finished with a 29-4 advantage in shots, including 17-3 on goal.
The Bobcats also led 10-2 in corner kicks.
West Liberty’s Cianna Butera recorded 11 saves while Frostburg’s Kayla Doty finished with three.
“Kayla is not our regular starter in goal, and she was outstanding today,” Parker said. “She’s made it into a competition at that position.”
The Bobcats head to Point Park in Pittsburgh on Saturday at 11 a.m.
The Pioneers (3-1-1, 2-0 MEC) are in its second season as a Division II program, finishing last season 3-10-5.
“They’re scrappy and physical, they’ve got players,” Parker said. “Very international team, we’ll do our scouting. We’ve seen them play a little bit already and we’ll be ready. It’s a difficult kind of drive, we play an early kickoff. So we’ll see if we’re a morning team.”