Box Score MANHATTAN, Kan. – A timely score from senior midfielder Carla Portillo in the 84th minute pushed the No. 9-ranked West Virginia University women's soccer team to a 1-0 win over Kansas State tonight at K-State Soccer Complex.
 
The first-ever meeting between the teams was exciting until the end, as the Mountaineers (9-3, 2-1) found the goal they sorely needed late. With room for days, Portillo received a great ball above the 18-yard box from junior forward Sh'Nia Gordon. She beat two Wildcat defenders before ripping a shot from above the line that sailed toward the far right pocket for her second score of the season.
 
Gordon's assist was her team-best fifth. She had three assists in 2015 and 2016.
 
"I have to give Kansas State a lot of credit," Mountaineer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown said. "They had a great game plan. They dropped a lot of numbers in front of the net, and it was hard to get a good look. They were disruptive.
 
"I was proud of Carla's senior leadership. She found the back of the net. Finding that space was hard tonight with K-State putting so many numbers behind the ball."
 
Three of the Mountaineers' last four wins have been 1-0 victories. The squad has now scored five goals this season after the 76th minute.
 
WVU finished with an 18-6 edge in shorts, placing nine on-frame. K-State's Miranda Larkin stopped eight, including six in the first half. Sophomore Rylee Foster stopped two Wildcat chances.
 
Tonight's clean sheet is the team's seventh of the season and first in Big 12 play. Foster's career shutout total moves to 15.
 
"I know this was important to the backline and to Rylee," Izzo-Brown said of tonight's shutout. "Not only was I pleased to see the win, I was pleased to see the shutout."
 
The Mountaineers also finished with a 6-0 edge in corner kicks. The Wildcats (5-6-1, 0-3) are the first Big 12 team to not earn a corner kick against the WVU defense this season.
 
The Mountaineers' early push produced two long-range looks in the seventh minute. Senior midfielder Alli Magaletta sent a cross to senior forward Michaela Abam, who quickly flicked it wide to Portillo. Portillo immediately shot from 18-yards out, but her shot was blocked. Abam pounced on the deflection, but her shot went wide of the right post.
 
Foster was challenged just once in the first half on a low shot from midfielder Maddie Souder in the 34th minute. She cleanly met the low attempt at the right post.
 
Portillo and Abam connected in the 38th minute. Abam met Portillo's cross near the right post, but her header was caught by Larkin.
 
The Mountaineers' best look of the first half came in the final 70 seconds. Though WVU's third corner kick of the half did not produce a chance, the team retained possession and pushed the ball back into the box. Magaletta received the ball from six-yards out and took a point-blank shot which Larkin batted down at the line.
 
Just three minutes into the second half, Mountaineer senior defender Amandine Pierre-Louis nearly broke scoreless play. With the ball high above the 18-yard box, she took a shot which Larkin batted away and into the right post. The ball skirted the goal line before Larkin gathered it for the stop.
 
Gordon nearly earned her own goal in the 66th minute. After a give-and-go with senior forward Heather Kaleiohi, she pushed toward the net. Larkin met her at the left post and stuffed her attempt.
 
Foster's second save of the night came just before the Mountaineers' game-winner, as she caught a long, lofting shot by forward Hannah Davis at the right post in the 82nd minute.
 
Abam and Davis each finished with a game-high four shots. Gordon paced the field with two shots on-goal.
 
The Mountaineers return to Morgantown for five straight home matches at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. First up is No. 19 Oklahoma State on Friday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m. It's Soctoberfest, and specialty German food and beverage options will be available at the concession stands.