The Mountaineers (5-0-2) nearly lost their first conference game of the season, but came through dramatically. After Baylor took a 1-0 lead in the late stages of the game, WVU answered with the equalizer in the final minute of the game. They travel to Boulder, Colorado, for the next game against Colorado on Thursday, September 24, at 9 p.m. Read more: WVU’s late goal against Baylor keeps undefeated season alive.
First half
West Virginia controlled the ball well through the first 15 minutes. They earned a corner kick in the third minute, and Jordyn Wilson’s shot was blocked by Baylor’s defenders. West Virginia’s first real threat came in the 10th minute. Ava Arnold and Saige Wimes shots were blocked near the net. Maya Leoni recovered the rebound and put a shot on goal at the bottom center of the net. It was saved by Baylor’s goalkeeper, Azul Alvarez.
West Virginia had two more shots in the 15th minute, but neither was on target. A foul on Baylor’s Aryanna Jimison gave the Mountaineers a free kick, but West Virginia could not threaten with the advantage. Baylor struggled to get the ball past midfield and hold possession.
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Baylor found themselves threatening after a WVU goal kick. They had two corner kicks, but could not convert either into goals. West Virginia could hardly get past midfield after two Baylor fouls, and Baylor started to control the ball.
Both teams made multiple substitutions in the 28th minute, but the fresh legs did not result in much action. The Mountaineers fought hard for control around midfield, and neither team attempted a shot for the final 30 minutes. West Virginia was called for an offside in the 43rd minute, in their last real chance at a goal in the first period.
West Virginia finished the first period with seven shots and one on target. Baylor had zero shots at the break. WVU had four corners, to Baylor’s two. The Mountaineers were called offside twice, but only had two fouls. Baylor had five fouls.
Second half
Abbey Olexa had the first shot of the second period in the 51st minute. It was off target, and Baylor was awarded a goal kick. Baylor turned it into a corner kick, but it was unsuccessful. Baylor’s Kate Runyon had a shot on the rebound, but it was off target. It resulted in a goal kick for West Virginia. After some beautiful passing downfield, Olexa had another great look on goal. It missed wide left.
West Virginia stayed in attack mode. Wimes had a great opportunity following a great lead pass, but it was saved by Alvarez. A Baylor foul turned into a shot from Olivia Shertzer, but it was off target. After the throw-in, Jacey Rase’s shot was saved in the center of the net by Alvarez.
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Baylor had a real chance as they caught WVU’s defenders settling after a blocked Ava Arnold shot, but Bailey Herfurth made a heads-up play by coming out of goal to corral the ball ahead of the Baylor attacker.
Sophia Nickel put a nice shot on goal in the 76th minute after multiple players deflected the ball. Alvarez made a diving save in the bottom left of the net.
The Bears scored in the 78th minute off the foot of Lauren Omholt, assisted by Jimison. She was nearly offside, but after review, the referees determined she was not. She beat Herfurth in a one-on-one situation to score the dagger.
WVU had more chances in the final 10 minutes, and its aggressiveness paid off. A Wimes shot resulted in a corner kick with 35 seconds remaining. Wimes scored on a header to tie the game, off an assist by Anna Hauer. The game ended in a draw, 1-1.
By the numbers
Baylor finished the game with four total shots, and only one was on target. That lone shot on goal proved to be enough. West Virginia had 20 shots, and seven were on target. None were more exciting than the final one.
Alvarez finished the game with six saves in goal. The Bears committed seven fouls and were offside twice. The Mountaineers had four fouls. WVU had six corners to Baylor’s three.
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