No. 18 WVU Women’s Soccer (7-1-2, 2-1-2) rode the momentum of a successful second half to overcome Houston on the road Friday. Goals from Sophia Nickel and Olivia Shertzer got the job done offensively in a match controlled by the Mountaineers down the stretch. A slow start did not keep the Mountaineers out of the win column, either. Read more: No. 18 WVU Women’s Soccer powers past Houston in the Lone Star State, 2-0.
First half
West Virginia’s defense got an early test from Houston. Skylar Miller put a shot on goal for the Cougars in less than two minutes, but Bailey Herfurth made the save.
Two more UH shots followed in the third minute, but neither got on goal. In the fifth minute, Miller threatened again but was turned away.
The Mountaineers did not show a pulse offensively in the earliest stages, but nabbed its first corner kick and in turn, its first true opportunity of the match. WVU came up empty-handed.
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It took until the 12th minute, but the Mountaineers finally threatened offensively. Olivia Shertzer lined up a shot on goal to bottom center, but Sierra McCluer made her first of three first-half saves.
Anna Hauer and Saige Wimes picked up the two other shots on goal for WVU in the period, but to no avail. Outside of a plunk here and there from both teams, the first half came to a quiet close.
Despite Houston outshooting West Virginia in total shots (8-3), the Mountaineers had the upper hand on goal through the first 45 (3-2).
WVU went into the break scoreless for the sixth time through 10 matches, something head coach Nikki Izzo-Brown has repeatedly harped on in the past.
Second half
It took awhile, but WVU finally broke through to end the stalemate.
Sophia Nickel got a proper look and knocked the ball into the back of the net. She found an opening in the bottom left, giving WVU a 1-0 lead in the 63rd. Jacey Race picked up the assist on the scoring play.
A few corners and mass substitutions later, and it was time for WVU to go to work again. Flash forward to the 73rd minute, and Shertzer finally got her moment off the left foot.
Houston tallied two more shots on goal down the final stretch, but the Mountaineers did enough to escape with a clean sheet. Between the pair of goals in the second half and five saves from Herfurth, it was enough for a crucial road win.
Final numbers
- WVU: 2 goals, 13 shots, 9 shots on goal, 6 corners, 5 saves, 4 fouls
- UH: 0 goals, 17 shots, 5 shots on goal, 1 corner, 7 saves, 0 fouls
What’s next
The old gold and blue return home for a showdown with BYU on Thursday. First touch from Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium is set for 7 p.m. in Morgantown. The match is set to stream on ESPN+.
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