After a tough start in Big 12 Conference play, No. 10 WVU Women’s Soccer (6-1-2, 1-1-1) picked up its first conference win of the season Sunday, defeating Iowa State (4-5-2, 0-3-0). Read more: No. 10 WVU Women’s Soccer gets first conference win over Iowa State, 2-0.
The Mountaineers blanked the Cyclones, 2-0, at the Cyclone Sports Complex in Ames, Iowa.
WVU has never lost to Iowa State in women’s soccer. The all-time series spans back to 2012, with the Mountaineers now leading, 14-0.
The win gives the Mountaineers a much-needed boost in the conference standings after drawing with No. 11 Baylor and falling to No. 13 Colorado.
Related: No. 10 WVU Women’s Soccer swept by No. 13 Colorado in Boulder
First half
The Mountaineers started aggressively in the first half, putting up three shots in the third minute. The first two were blocked, and the third was saved by Iowa State goalkeeper Eme McClenahan.
Iowa State got a corner kick shortly after and put up its first shot of the game, but Bailey Herfurth made the save to prevent a goal.
In the seventh minute, forward Sophia Nickel put down a shot in the bottom left of the goal off her left foot to give WVU the first goal of the game.
Nickel’s goal was her fourth of the season. She is the team leader in goals scored.
Both teams played solid defense following the goal, with the next shot not being taken until the 31st minute by WVU. It was saved by McClenahan.
WVU attempted one more shot in the 37th minute and Iowa State in the 39th minute, but both were off target.
No one scored between the then and the end of the half, and WVU took its 1-0 lead into halftime.
The Mountaineers outshot the Cyclones, 7-2, and had three shots on goal. The Cyclones only had one shot on goal.
Second half
WVU was aggressive once again on offense to start the second half. It put up its first shot on goal in the 48th minute and a second in the 53rd minute.
In the 55th minute, WVU had another three shots, one off-target and two on goal.
WVU found the back of the net again in the 56th minute when Abbey Olexa put up a shot in the top left of the goal off her right foot to take a 2-0 lead.
The goal was Olexa’s third of the season. She is the second-leading goal scorer for WVU behind Nickel.
The next shot was taken in the 66th minute by WVU, but it was off target.
Iowa State fired two shots of its own after, both on goal but saved by Herfurth.
A few more shots were taken by both teams to finish out the second half, but they were all off target. The Mountaineers led 2-0 at the end down the stretch.
At the end of the match, WVU had taken over double the shots of Iowa (15-7) and had over double the number of shots on goal (8-3).
Looking ahead
WVU next travels to face Houston (7-1-3, 3-0-0) at the Carl Lewis International Complex in Houston, Texas Friday. The match is the last of a three-game road stretch.
WVU leads the all-time series against Houston, 2-1. The Mountaineers are 1-1 at Carl Lewis International Complex.
After Houston, WVU will have a three-game home stretch at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium against BYU (October 8), Utah (October 11), and No. 23 UCF (October 16).
On Tuesday, WVU will receive its next ranking in the United Soccer Coaches Poll. A tough loss to No.13 Colorado may force the Mountaineers’ fall in the rankings.
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