The 2026-2027 WVU Athletics year kicks off a month from Monday, when WVU Women’s Soccer takes the pitch for the first time August 13. Between a program celebrating its 30th anniversary and several returning stars, there is plenty for fans to be excited about. Read more: One month out: WVU Women’s Soccer.
Staff writer Trent Conner has a previous article with a heavier focus on the historical significance of the upcoming milestone season, which you can read below;
Related: WVU Women’s Soccer kicks off 30th anniversary season, 2026-27 athletic year
Preparations are well underway as rowdy fans eagerly anticipate filing into Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium for another year of Mountaineer soccer.
Familiar faces on sideline, in goal
It starts at the top. Head coach Nikki Izzo-Brown, like the program, enters her 30th season with WVU. She is the lone coach in program history, touting 416 wins and countless accolades. Izzo-Brown has several players from last year’s NCAA Tournament squad topping the 2026 roster.
Related: Position Review #4: Nick Krahe leads an unproven offensive line
Now to the pitch. Goalkeeper Bailey Herfurth is back for her redshirt senior season with the Mountaineers. She is coming off a stellar junior campaign, starting 18 matches for WVU in 2025. Herfurth posted a 13-1-4 record, winning the starting job after an early-season battle with Mackenzie Smith. She allowed 15 goals, but made 46 saves and harnessed a team that held opponents scoreless in nine matches.
Last year’s third option at keep, Campbell Wolff, is also back. She posted a clean sheet in her lone relief appearance.
Offensive returners
On the offensive side, WVU has the luxury of returning three of its top five goal-scorers from 2025.
Maddie Levy (6), Abbey Olexa (6), and Anna Hauer (4), are all set to don the old gold and blue once again. The trio scored 16 of the team’s 42 goals in last year’s campaign.
Levy (7) and Hauer (5) were also second and third on the team in assists, respectively.
Other returning players from this past year include;
- Jacey Rase
- Maya Leoni
- Alexis Pashales
- Jordyn Wilson
- Olivia Shertzer
- Kailyn Effah
- Alexis Ré
- Layla Thompson
- Christina Salama
- Nyema Ingleton
- Sophia Nickel
- Isabel Ceaser
- Josie Johnson
- Gianna Koss
From foes to friends
Three members of this year’s roster come in from other Big 12 schools.
Saige Wimes (Kansas), Rylee Felton (Cincinnati), and Mia Paugh (Utah) all jump ship to the team coming off an 8-0-3 posting in league play. WVU went 1-0-2 against those three teams in the regular season. The Jayhawks eliminated the Mountaineers in the Big 12 tournament, 4-0.
None of the three recorded stats against the Mountaineers, but Wimes had a solid year with five goals and four assists. Felton finished second in goals (3) and assists (2) for a struggling Bearcats team, and Paugh picked up a goal for the Utes.
Felton and Paugh both have chances to face off against their respective former schools. Cincinnati is the final opponent on the Mountaineers’ regular season slate, set for November 5. For Paugh, Utah comes to town October 11 for a Sunday matinee.
Other transfers and freshman round out a roster full of proven talent, as well as untapped potential.
Rivalries
The Big 12 slate has a handful of solid matchups for fans to get excited about, but a couple non-conference matches stand out on the calendar.
Of course, Penn State and Marshall grab eyes. The Nittany Lions have gotten the best of WVU more often than not, leading the all-time series, 15-7-3. WVU has not topped PSU outright since 20017, but it always makes for a great showdown.
On the opposite end, the Mountaineers recently rekindled their in-state rivalry with Marshall. Given the success of the men’s version of the Mountain State Derby’s success, it was a no-brainer to pick this series back up. The two squads met for just the fifth time when WVU scored a road win in Huntington last year, the first match between the two since 2011. WVU leads the series, 5-0, and the Thundering Herd will have to travel north to Morgantown for the first time since 2011.
Plenty to look forward to
With an established culture and proven star power in the mix, WVU Women’s Soccer awaits another season full of high expectations. It all starts a month from the time of publication, when the Mountaineers will welcome the Dayton Flyers to town on August 13.
First touch for the season opener is set for 7 p.m. at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium in Morgantown. WVU is 2-0 all-time against the Flyers, including a 2-0 road win early last season.
It is the first of 10 chances for fans to come check out the team at home during the regular slate.
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