Published: October 09, 2007 12:19 am         

Like looking into a mirror: Coach sees herself in Baker as MSU women win fifth straight

Christina Baker isn’t exactly a veteran, experienced goalkeeper.

It just looks that way.

The Philadelphia freshman came up with big play after big play in the final 25 minutes as Mountain State University held off determined West Virginia University Tech 2-1 Monday evening at Paul Cline Stadium.

Baker, who started at defensive back and was the reserve keeper at her high school, is earning high praise from coach Kelly Borck.

“I can’t say enough about Christina. She plays just like I did,” said Borck, a former keeper herself at the University of Charleston. “She loves to hit people. She loves to come out. She’s not scared at all, and it makes a world of difference.”

After Tech’s Amanda Hughes banged in a rebound to make it 2-1 in the 71st minute, the Golden Bears had new life and went on the offensive.

Powerful, high-scoring forward Tina Ottey from Jamaica charged the goal on a breakaway and faced Baker 1-on-1.

Baker timed her move perfectly, diving to the ball a split-second before Ottey could hammer it into the back of the net.

A minute later she raced out into a crowd, ignoring various bumps and shoves, to safely pull in a direct kick.

“You can’t worry about getting hurt. You have to be tough and stay with those balls,” Baker said. “They bang into me and my knee all the time, but I have to take the pain.”

In the 84th minute she stopped Kirsten Neuberger’s shot. Less than a minute later Tech’s Ottey charged again and fired.

Baker deflected the ball, but Ottey grabbed the rebound and wound up for what looked like the game-tying shot.

MSU defender Jessica Hupp raced in, however, and blocked the shot with her body.

“Our defense stepped it up,” Baker said. “When the ball got behind me, there were two girls there ready to help me.”

A final Tech shot in the closing seconds went just to the right of the goal and into Baker’s waiting hands.

Tech (4-8) finished with a 7-3 edge in shots on goal. Baker made five saves.

“If I have to lose a match, I want to lose it like this,” coach Florine Marton said. “Both teams went hard and played their hearts out. In the end, (MSU) made the most of their opportunities and we didn’t.”

Beckley freshman Erica Alderman scored both goals for MSU (5-6). The first followed Manuela Acosta’s direct kick in the 54th minute while the other was on a breakaway from an Acosta through ball in the 67th minute.

The Cougars had taken just one shot on goal in the first half.

“Coach said we weren’t really putting pressure on them,” Alderman said. “She pumped us up at halftime.”

Tech never gave Alderman a chance at a hat trick, choosing to tackled her just outside the penalty area every time threatened the goal.

“It started getting a little physical,” she said.

Tech played without three injured starters.

“I have all the respect in the world for them for leaving it all on the field,” Marton said. “They played their hearts out.”

The Golden Bears travel to Point Park University Wednesday.

MSU, 5-6 and winners of its last five matches, hosts Bluefield College at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

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MSU 2, WVU Tech 1

Goals: WVUT (Amanda Hughes, rebound, 71st minute); MSU (Erica Alderman, from Manuela Acosta direct kick, 54th minute; Alderman, Acosta assist, 67th minute). Shots on goal: WVUT 7 (Danielle Brown 1, Bailey Sherbak 1, Caroline McKelvie 1, Hughes 1, Kirsten Neuberger 1, Tina Ottey 2), MSU 3 (Acosta 1, Alderman 2). Keeper saves: WVUT 1 (Andrea Arias), MSU 5 (Christina Baker 5). Yellow cards: WVUT 1 (Britt Bennett), MSU 1 (Alderman).