MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 3/4-ranked West Virginia University women’s soccer team closes a five-match homestand at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium against TCU on Friday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m.
Friday night is the Mountaineers’ annual “Pink Match,” and all fans are encouraged to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness. The first 300 fans through the gate will receive a pink glow stick. The Mountaineers will present a check for $8,647 to Morgantown’s Betty Puskar Breast Care Center at halftime. The team has raised more than $120,000 for breast cancer research since 2001.
It’s also a “Dollar Night,” and all tickets and select concessions will be available for $1 each. WVU students are admitted free with a valid WVU student I.D. The match also is the team’s “Soctoberfest” celebration, and specialty German food and beverage options will be available at the concession stands.
The Mountaineers (10-1, 1-0) enter Friday’s match ranked No. 1 nationally in shutout percentage (0.909), having tallied a clean sheet in each of their 10 wins. WVU needs four more clean sheets to match the program single-season record of 14, set in 2010.
“Having that ranking on our back is something everyone wants,” said coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “It’s tough to be at the top all the time and maintain that status. We understand that we have a lot to protect and that we need to bring our best every game. We want to protect our ranking Friday night.”
WVU owns a 3-1-1 all-time edge over the Horned Frogs (8-4, 2-0). The squads met twice last year, playing to a scoreless draw in Fort Worth on Sept. 26 before the Mountaineers earned a 2-1 win in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Conference Championship on Nov. 5, in Kansas City, Missouri. Senior midfielder Leah Emaus and sophomore forward Michaela Abam each tallied scores in the victory.
“The scores don’t lie – both programs have played each other tight over the years,” continued Izzo-Brown. “They beat us two years ago at the Big 12 Championship. There’s definitely going to be some high spirits and respect for each other’s programs Friday night.”
Abam leads the Mountaineers and ranks No. 2 in the Big 12 with seven goals. Senior forward Kailey Utley ranks No. 2 in the Big 12 with 18 points (6 G, 6 A). Utley’s points, goals and assists totals are single-season bests.
Senior goalkeeper Hannah Steadman ranks No. 2 nationally with a 0.21 goals-against average. The Kinnelon, New Jersey, native is credited with seven of the team’s 10 shutouts.
WVU, the three-time reigning Big 12 Conference champions, opened Big 12 play with a 2-0 win against Texas on Sept. 25. Freshman defender Hannah Abraham tallied the game-winner in the 36th minute, and junior midfielder Ashley Lawrence added an insurance goal in the 52nd minute. Steadman made two saves in the win, while UT’s Abby Smith turned away 10 WVU shots.
The Horned Frogs have won eight of their last nine matches and outscored opponents 26-2 in that stretch. The squad shows seven shutouts on the season and have compiled a school-best four clean sheets.
Junior forward Michelle Prokof ranks No. 1 in the Big 12 in goals (9) and points (18).
TCU opened Big 12 play at home last weekend with a 5-0 win over Iowa State on Sept. 25 and a 3-0 victory against Oklahoma State on Sept. 27.
