UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (August 16, 2018) – The No. 9-ranked West Virginia University women's soccer team opens its 2018 season against No. 4 Penn State at Jeffrey Field on Friday, Aug. 17, at 7:30 p.m.
 
Links for a video stream and live scores are available at WVUsports.com.
 
Friday also is the opener for the Nittany Lions. The match is WVU's fifth season opener against PSU, and it is the fourth at Jeffrey Field. The Mountaineers are 0-2-2 against the Nittany Lions in openers and 7-8-2 all-time against PSU.
 
WVU opens its season on the road against a top-five ranked opponent for the third straight season. The Mountaineers tied No. 2 Penn State, 1-1 (2OT) in 2016 and defeated No. 5 Georgetown, 1-0, in 2017.
 
"We're going to throw ourselves into the lions' den and see what the fourth-best team in the country has to offer," Mountaineer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown said.
 
In their last meeting, No. 10 PSU defeated No. 7 WVU, 3-1, in the third round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament on Nov. 19, at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. WVU earned the edge in the teams' regular-season meeting last year, as the Mountaineers defeated then-No. 1. Penn State, 2-1, on Sept. 2.
 
"They knocked us out of the 'Sweet Sixteen,' and I know the returners were disappointed with that game," Izzo-Brown added. "This is always a rivalry. Both teams have competed so well against each other. I think both teams will be excited to play each other. It's going to be a great game and atmosphere. This should be an exciting event."
 
The Mountaineers are 10-9-3 in season openers. Away from Morgantown for the last five openers, WVU is 2-1-2 in that span.
 
In her 24th season as a head coach, Izzo-Brown returns to lead the program into its 23rd season. Friday is Izzo-Brown's 500th career match as a head coach, and she boasts a 338-112-49 (.726) overall record and a 325-107-49 (.727) mark with the Mountaineers.
 
Sixteen letterwinners return from a 2017 campaign which saw the Mountaineers advance to the NCAA Tournament Third Round for the third time in as many seasons. WVU finished the year at 16-4-3, 7-1-1 Big 12.
 
Senior forward Sh'Nia Gordon, a 2018 Preseason All-Big 12 selection, is WVU's top offensive returner, as she finished the 2017 season ranked No. 2 on the team and No. 10 in the Big 12 with 15 points (4 G, 7 A).
 
Junior Rylee Foster, also a Preseason All-Big 12 honoree, returns for her third season in net. She earned credit for 12 of WVU's 13 shutouts in 2017 and ranked No. 1 in the conference, No. 8 nationally. Foster also ranked No. 1 in the Big 12, No. 23 nationally, with a 0.64 goals-against average (GAA), the ninth-best mark in program history.
 
Senior defenders Bianca St. Georges, Easther Mayi Kith and Vanessa Flores will again play in front of Foster; St. Georges and Mayi Kith also were named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team. Additionally, Foster and St. Georges were named to the 2018 Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Hermann Trophy Watch List.
 
Eleven newcomers join WVU this season, including senior midfielder transfer Nadya Gill (Quinnipiac).
A United Soccer Coaches All-Region Second Team honoree in 2017, Gill appeared in 19 matches and registered 34 points (13 G, 8 A).
 
The top pick in the 2018 Big Ten Women's Soccer Preseason Poll, PSU finished the 2017 season at 15-5-4, 6-2-3 Big Ten, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals. The 2017 Big Ten Tournament champions, PSU is led by 12th-year coach Erica Dambach.