Behind a dominant defensive effort and a clinical performance from senior forward Abbey Olexa, the West Virginia University women’s soccer team earned a 2-0 victory over Dayton on Sunday afternoon. Read more: Olexa’s Two Goals Lead West Virginia Past Dayton in 2-0 Win
Olexa netted a goal in each half to secure the win, while goalkeeper Bailey Herfurth anchored a back line that kept the Flyers off the board for 90 minutes.
Starting Strong
From the opening whistle, West Virginia set the tempo. The Mountaineers pressed forward early, generating chances through a pair of corner kicks and shots from Roxanne Vilain and Alexis Ré.
Dayton’s goalkeeper, Batoul Reda, was called into action in the 4th minute when she denied Ré’s attempt to the bottom left corner, one of her nine saves on the day.
Dayton answered with its own offensive pressure, testing WVU’s defense in the opening stages. Liv Grenda struck the right post in the 6th minute, and Laney Smith forced Herfurth into a low save in the 15th.
Despite these chances, the Flyers struggled to sustain long spells of possession against West Virginia’s organized midfield anchored by Maddie Levy and Anna Hauer.
Breakthrough
The breakthrough came in the 24th minute. Hauer delivered a nice pass into space for Olexa, who finished calmly past Reda for the game’s first goal. The strike energized the Mountaineers, who entered halftime with a 1-0 advantage after outshooting Dayton 10-4.
The second half began much like the first ended. Just 60 seconds into the restart, Olexa struck again. Levy delivered a accurate pass into the box. Olexa latched onto it and delivered home her second goal of the afternoon in the 46th minute, doubling the Mountaineers’ lead.
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Dayton’s Pressure
Dayton attempted to claw back into the match, pushing numbers forward. Karli Ferguson nearly pulled one back in the 46th minute, only to be denied by Herfurth.
Later, Grenda and Kyra Karfonta each rattled the woodwork, highlighting the Flyers’ frustration in the attacking third. Despite outshooting WVU 5-8 in the second period, Dayton failed to find the back of the net.
Defensively, West Virginia showcased its composure. Herfurth tallied three saves, while the backline absorbed pressure and cleared danger effectively.
Nyema Ingleton, though booked for consecutive fouls in the 83rd minute, was a physical presence throughout. The Mountaineers were disciplined, conceding just 10 fouls despite Dayton’s attempts to disrupt rhythm in the midfield.
Reda, meanwhile, was a standout for Dayton despite the loss. She finished with nine saves, including key stops on Taylor White, Ava Arnold, and Alicia Riggins, preventing the score line from widening further.
West Virginia’s Intensity
The match was not without its intensity. West Virginia picked up two yellow cards, one to Maya Leoni in the 39th minute and another to Vilain late in the contest, as the Flyers pressed forward in desperation. Yet the Mountaineers’ composure ensured they saw the game out comfortably.
By the final whistle, the statistics told the story of WVU’s control. The Mountaineers outshot Dayton 18-9, with 11 of those efforts testing Reda. They also held a 6-4 edge in corner kicks. Dayton’s three shots on target were handled with confidence by Herfurth, who recorded her third clean sheet of the season.
Olexa’s Big Game
For West Virginia, Olexa’s brace marked her third and fourth goals of the campaign, establishing her as the team’s leading scorer. Her partnership with Hauer and Levy proved decisive, as both midfielders registered assists in the win.
In a game defined by efficiency and organization, the difference was Olexa’s finishing touch. Her two goals punctuated a WVU performance that blended offensive pressure with defensive resilience.
With the victory, West Virginia improves to 3-2 on the year, while Dayton falls to 2-2-1. The Mountaineers will return to action next week at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium when they host a non-conference matchup, while the Flyers look to regroup before their Atlantic 10 opener.
Final Score: West Virginia 2, Dayton 0
