MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (Sept. 22, 2024) – The West Virginia University women’s soccer team remained undefeated in Big 12 Conference play, collecting a 3-2 win over Kansas at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
In a chippy match that saw a combined 23 fouls and five yellow cards, the Mountaineers (7-2-1, 3-0 Big 12) outlasted the Jayhawks to earn the victory. Junior forward Ajanae Respass, fifth-year senior midfielder AJ Rodriguez and sophomore forward Abbey Olexa found the back of the net for WVU in the win. Olexa’s score, which was credited as the eventual game winner, marked the first goal of her collegiate career.
With the win, West Virginia moved to 3-0 in conference play, marking the first time it has started the Big 12 season 3-0 since 2018, as well as the fifth time since joining the league in 2012.
Out of the gate, Kansas put the pressure on West Virginia, dominating possession and looking like it would be the first to find a breakthrough. However, the momentum shifted when the Mountaineers earned a corner kick in the 17th minute, which was taken by fifth-year senior midfielder Lilly McCarthy. The Baltimore, Maryland, native sent the ball into the box and found the head of Respass, who headed it down into the corner of the net for her team-leading fifth goal of the season.
It looked as if WVU would take a 1-0 lead into the locker room at halftime, but the Jayhawks provided another momentum swing when they got on the board in the 39th minute to force a 1-1 score at the break.
In the second half, the Mountaineers were more in control of the game, minimizing fouls and maintaining possession. Rodriguez scored her third goal in as many games at 60:45, receiving a rebound from a saved Taylor White shot and sneaking it past the KU keeper to put WVU back on top.
Ten minutes later, Olexa got her chance to get on the scoreboard after classmate Jordyn Wilson found her open just beyond the 18-yard box. Olexa took a great shot that went out of reach for the goalie for her first career tally. The goal would later become a much-needed insurance score when KU drew one closer at the 85:37 mark. However, it wasn’t enough as the Mountaineers hung on in the final four minutes for the win.
In the final box score, WVU narrowly outshot KU, 13-10, including 6-4 in shots on goal. Three different Mountaineers found the back of the net for just the second time this season, as West Virginia its second-highest single game goal total this year. Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Mackenzie Smith made a pair of saves in the match, while Kansas keeper Sophia Dawe tallied three.
WVU moves to 10-3-2 all-time against the Jayhawks, including 4-1-1 in games played in Morgantown. Of note, Sunday’s win marked the first time West Virginia has allowed two or more goals and won since Oct. 23, 2022, at Oklahoma.
West Virginia now prepares for its first-ever trip to Arizona for a pair of matchups against Arizona State and Arizona. The weekend begins in Tempe with a contest against the Sun Devils on Thursday, Sept. 26. Kickoff at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. MST.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUWomensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
In a chippy match that saw a combined 23 fouls and five yellow cards, the Mountaineers (7-2-1, 3-0 Big 12) outlasted the Jayhawks to earn the victory. Junior forward Ajanae Respass, fifth-year senior midfielder AJ Rodriguez and sophomore forward Abbey Olexa found the back of the net for WVU in the win. Olexa’s score, which was credited as the eventual game winner, marked the first goal of her collegiate career.
With the win, West Virginia moved to 3-0 in conference play, marking the first time it has started the Big 12 season 3-0 since 2018, as well as the fifth time since joining the league in 2012.
Out of the gate, Kansas put the pressure on West Virginia, dominating possession and looking like it would be the first to find a breakthrough. However, the momentum shifted when the Mountaineers earned a corner kick in the 17th minute, which was taken by fifth-year senior midfielder Lilly McCarthy. The Baltimore, Maryland, native sent the ball into the box and found the head of Respass, who headed it down into the corner of the net for her team-leading fifth goal of the season.
It looked as if WVU would take a 1-0 lead into the locker room at halftime, but the Jayhawks provided another momentum swing when they got on the board in the 39th minute to force a 1-1 score at the break.
In the second half, the Mountaineers were more in control of the game, minimizing fouls and maintaining possession. Rodriguez scored her third goal in as many games at 60:45, receiving a rebound from a saved Taylor White shot and sneaking it past the KU keeper to put WVU back on top.
Ten minutes later, Olexa got her chance to get on the scoreboard after classmate Jordyn Wilson found her open just beyond the 18-yard box. Olexa took a great shot that went out of reach for the goalie for her first career tally. The goal would later become a much-needed insurance score when KU drew one closer at the 85:37 mark. However, it wasn’t enough as the Mountaineers hung on in the final four minutes for the win.
In the final box score, WVU narrowly outshot KU, 13-10, including 6-4 in shots on goal. Three different Mountaineers found the back of the net for just the second time this season, as West Virginia its second-highest single game goal total this year. Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Mackenzie Smith made a pair of saves in the match, while Kansas keeper Sophia Dawe tallied three.
WVU moves to 10-3-2 all-time against the Jayhawks, including 4-1-1 in games played in Morgantown. Of note, Sunday’s win marked the first time West Virginia has allowed two or more goals and won since Oct. 23, 2022, at Oklahoma.
West Virginia now prepares for its first-ever trip to Arizona for a pair of matchups against Arizona State and Arizona. The weekend begins in Tempe with a contest against the Sun Devils on Thursday, Sept. 26. Kickoff at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. MST.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUWomensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
