MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Near the top of the long list of overly-used sports clichés is the phrase “defense wins championships.”
Nikki Izzo-Brown, the 20-year coach of the No. 4/5 West Virginia University women’s soccer team, preaches the philosophy every day at Dreamswork Field, and on the cusp of their Big 12 Conference opener, it’s easy to see that the Mountaineers are all in.
The WVU defense is off to its best start in program history, allowing the fewest opponent goals through 10 games (2). Prior to this season, the 2008 and 2006 squads held the record, allowing four goals through the first 10 games.
The Mountaineers are riding an eight-match shutout streak, the longest consecutive streak in program history, and own nine clean sheets on the season, five short of matching the program record of 14, set in 2010.
As of this morning, the Mountaineers’ nine shutouts were the most of any team in the NCAA. The squad is ranked No. 2 nationally, No. 1 in the Big 12 Conference, in shutout percentage (0.900) and goals-against average (0.199).
Senior Hannah Steadman has earned credit for six of the Mountaineers’ shutouts this season, pushing her career total to 17. The Kinnelon, New Jersey, native now ranks No. 1 in the Mountaineer career record book with a 0.55 goals-against average.
Two Mountaineers responsible for the team’s defensive success have more than deft blocking skills in common.
Not only are freshmen Bianca St. Georges and Easther Mayi Kith providing youthful exuberance to the Mountaineers’ backline, they also are strengthening the unit’s communication – albeit with a bit of French sprinkled in every now and then.
Teammates on the Canadian Women’s National U-17 Team, the best friends are flourishing in Morgantown. St. Georges, a native of St. Felix de Valois, Quebec, has started all 10 games for WVU at outside back, while Mayi Kith, a Quebec City, Quebec, native, entered the starting lineup at center back after junior Carly Black suffered a season-ending injury in the team’s 2-0 win at No. 15 Ohio State on Sept. 11.
Izzo-Brown believes the duos’ friendship has helped the friends not only survive, but thrive, throughout the difficult transition to college life.
“They’re best friends and they celebrate each other’s successes,” Izzo-Brown explained. “Most importantly, they’re there to pick each other up on and off the field, and that’s important. They have chemistry on the field, and I’m so glad the team is benefiting from it.”
The twosome is extremely confident in each other’s play, too.
“Easther and I have known each other for so long now, and we have a good relationship,” said St. Georges. “I have so much confidence in her. She has so much to bring to the team, even though she is a freshman.”
St. Georges has been critical in a few of WVU’s tight matches and ranks No. 3 on the team with three assists. She believes the Mountaineers are achieving success early this year because the coaches refuse to allow the team to settle.
“The coaches push this team to be reach success,” she said. “They remind us that we can’t succeed by staying in our comfort zones. We have to work hard every day, at every practice, on and off the field, to be better.”
The three-time reigning Big 12 regular-season champions, WVU opens its conference slate against Texas tonight at 7 p.m. at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. The Mountaineers were picked No. 1 in the Big 12 Conference Soccer Preseason Poll. WVU has been picked to finish first by the league’s eight head coaches each season but 2012, its first in the conference.
Big 12 or Big East, one fact has remained constant for the Mountaineers since 2009 – they do not lose home conference matches. WVU shows a 26-match unbeaten streak in conference games at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium and has not dropped a league contest since losing 3-2 in overtime to No. 8 Notre Dame on Oct. 2, 2009.
The Mountaineers finished 4-0 in conference play at DDSS in 2014 and are 11-0-1 all-time in home Big 12 matches.
WVU is 21-1-1 in all-time Big 12 regulars-season matches.
It’s Alumni Weekend, and several Mountaineers from the program’s 20 seasons will be in attendance for tonight’s game. A special commemorative poster will be distributed this evening, but supplies are limited, so make sure you’re at DDSS early!
Tickets are $3 for youth and seniors, and $5 for adults. Groups of 10 or more can purchase tickets for $2 each, and WVU students are admitted free with a valid WVU student ID. Tickets are available for purchase at
WVUGAME.com and at the stadium ticket office.
All fans will have the opportunity to take their picture with the team’s 2014 Big 12 regular-season and championship trophies prior to kickoff Friday night. Additionally, the first 200 fans through the gate will receive a WVU Big 12 t-shirt, and the first 100 Mountaineer Maniacs will receive gym shorts.
Let’s Go, Mountaineers!
