If you grow up anywhere in the state of Ohio, chances are you are an Ohio State fan. Chelsea Corroto was once one. "I did grow up being a Buckeye fan, and I actually gave Ohio State a hard look," Corroto said. The sophomore is from Hilliard, Ohio, just 10 miles from Columbus, home of OSU, but has found a new home in Morgantown and she said is proud to be a Mountaineer. "I’m 100 percent West Virginia," she said, "and it is great." Corroto said her pride as a Mountaineer grew a little bit more this weekend when she saw her first two career starts. In a 3-2 overtime loss Friday, she logged 62 minutes, and Sunday she saw the field for 57 minutes. "For the Notre Dame game, I was extremely nervous," Corroto said, adding she was a lot more confident in Sunday’s game. She recorded an assist Friday night against Notre Dame with a header to forward Megan Mischler, who was able to field the pass and score off the one-timer. In Sunday’s game against DePaul, Corroto was involved around the net maneuvering around defenders with ease. "Speed is a huge benefit for me," she said. "Getting around girls and moving with the bigger girls is a strength." The starting job came by way of Blake Miller’s sickness Friday night. WVU head coach Nikki Izzo-Brown was so impressed with Corroto’s ability Friday that she stuck with the sophomore and gave her another shot Sunday. "Chelsea was great, she worked her little fanny off," Izzo-Brown said. "I’m so proud of her and the way she works, and she will continue to keep working hard." Having that assurance has paid dividends for Corroto, and she takes heed in the words of her head coach. "Whether I come off the bench or start, I always try to bring that confidence," she said. "Coach has given me a lot of confidence that I can have a positive influence on this team, and it definitely helps me out on the field." Standing at just 5-foot-1, Corroto is one of the smallest on the field. To keep up with the competition she has adapted to her surroundings. Corroto said she plays bigger than her given size and can keep up with just about anybody. "I really have to focus on getting my body in and just bodying up against these girls," Corroto said. "I tend to pull the T-shirt a little bit just because I’m so small, I usually get away with it." Corroto hopes she can continue to make an impact this season. She said that as she sees the field more, she is able to get in a rhythm. "Now that I’m getting more minutes I have to focus on getting the next (goal)," she said. "Hopefully next weekend."
Corroto making an impact in starts
Published: Sunday, October 4, 2009
Updated: Sunday, October 4, 2009 23:10
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