MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 11/15 West Virginia University women’s soccer team concludes its season-opening road trip on Friday, Aug. 28, at Maryland, before opening its 2015 home season at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 30, against Duquesne.
First kick from Ludwig Field in College Park, Maryland, is set for 7 p.m. The Mountaineers will kick off their home season at 3 p.m. against the Dukes.
Fans can now purchase tickets online in advance for any home match this season by visiting
WVUGAME.com and selecting the Print-At-Home or Mobile Delivery option.
Sunday is a “Dollar Day,” with all tickets and select concessions available for $1 each. Additionally, in celebration of the program’s 20th season, a special giveaway will be awarded to 20 fans. The Mountaineers also will meet with fans and sign autographs following the game.
A free shuttle bus will be available from the Mountainlair and the Brooke/Braxton Towers loop for an hour leading up to Sunday’s start time. Return service to the Mountainlair and the Brooke/Braxton Towers loop also will be available for an hour at the conclusion of the match.
“It’s going to be so nice for the team to return to Morgantown,” Mountaineer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown said. “I know we’re all looking forward to getting back to Dick Dlesk Stadium and competing in front of our home crowd.”
Friday’s match, the second of five first-time opponents for the Mountaineers this season, is the program’s first against the Terrapins (2-0). The Terps are coming off a two-win showing at Ludwig Field, as they opened 2015 with a 1-0 win against Kent State on Aug. 21 and a 2-0 win against Navy on Aug. 23. Sophomore forward Alex Anthony scored all three goals, including a penalty kick against KSU.
“Traditionally, Maryland has always been a strong team, and we know they’re going to present problems Friday night,” said Izzo-Brown. “This is a big game for both teams. We’re hunting a win, and we know it’s going to be a battle against the Terps.
“We are going to have to make sure we suffocate Alex’s strengths and be aware of her at all times. We don’t want to give her a free look at the net.”
WVU (1-1) shows a 5-0-2 all-time series edge over the Dukes (2-0). The Mountaineers tallied a 4-1 victory in Morgantown in 2014.
DU also opened 2015 with two shutout wins, defeating Robert Morris, 2-0, on Aug. 21 and Saint Francis (Pa.) 3-0 on Aug. 23 to win the Steel City Classic title. Freshman forward Kristen Kotsopoulos tallied two scores over the weekend, including the game-winner against SFU, and was named the Atlantic 10 Conference co-Rookie of the Week.
The Mountaineers pushed their program-record unbeaten streak to 20 with a 2-0 win against SIUE at Indiana’s Hoosier Classic on Aug. 21. The win marked the team’s first in a season opener since a 3-0 victory against Towson in Morgantown on Aug. 22, 2008. A pair of freshmen pushed WVU to the win, with forward Nia Gordon tallying the game-winner in the 20th minute and defender Hannah Abraham adding an insurance goal in the 45th minute. For her efforts, Gordon was named the Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Week. Additionally, the defense held the Cougars to just two shots and denied them a shot on-goal.
Then-No. 11/13 Virginia Tech snapped WVU’s unbeaten streak Aug. 23 with a 2-1 win. After WVU went down 1-0 early in the second half, senior forward Kailey Utley netted the equalizer in the 57th minute. The Mountaineers were whistled for a handball in the 62nd minute, and VT made good on the ensuing penalty kick. WVU finished with a 22-9 shot advantage and forced Hokie goalkeeper Kaylyn Smith to make eight saves.
