Box Score CLEMSON, S.C. – The West Virginia University women's soccer team snagged its first road victory of the 2018 season with a 2-1 victory at Clemson tonight at Riggs Field.
 
A free kick from junior goalkeeper Rylee Foster sparked the game-winning goal, as she perfectly placed the ball in the box for senior forward Hannah Abraham, who swiftly headed it toward the left post for her first goal of the season.
 
"We grinded against a great ACC team. Give Clemson a lot of credit – they're a tough team," Mountaineer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown said. "Our team was super focused on what they each needed to do in their position to find the win."
 
After watching their 1-0 lead disappear on a Tiger goal in the 68th minute, the Mountaineers earned a chance 12 minutes later when CU's Mackenzie Smith was issued a yellow card just over midfield. Foster's kick sailed into the box, and Abraham timed her run perfectly, heading the ball in for her team-best seventh career game-winner and first since Aug. 27, 2017.
 
"Hannah Abraham was able to find the ball and time her run – it was a no-quit mentality," said Izzo-Brown. "I think we've been knocking, knocking, knocking, and the girls knew they needed to be a little bit more brave, a little bit more focused – and, that's what Hannah brought."
 
Tonight's victory gives the Mountaineers (2-2-3) at least one nonconference win in an opponent's home venue each year since 2015 and 17 times in program history.
 
WVU earned the important first-half lead in the 41st minute, as a loose ball in the box gave the Mountaineers the break they needed. Junior forward Jade Gentile sent a cross into the box, and Clemson failed to clear it at the goal line. Freshman forward Alina Stahl poked the ball out to sophomore midfielder Stefany Ferrer-vanGinkel, who immediately ripped a high shot just above the penalty line. The ball smacked off the crossbar before bouncing behind CU's Sandy MacIver and into the net for WVU's second first-half goal of the season.
 
The goal was the first career score for Ferrer-vanGinkel, as was the assist for Stahl. The goal was the Mountaineers' quickest of the season.
 
Held to just two shots on-goal, the Tigers capitalized on their second opportunity, as forward Miranda Weslake connected on an end-line cross from Sam Staab at the right post for her fourth goal of the season.
 
The Mountaineer defense out-played the Tigers (4-3) tonight, holding CU to just seven shots, with the first not coming until the 34th minute. WVU finished with a 15-7 edge in shots and forced MacIver into four saves, three in the first half. Foster made one stop for WVU, who also denied CU a corner kick, an opponent season low. The Mountaineers denied an opponent a corner kick seven times in 2017.
 
"They really stuck to the game plan," Izzo-Brown said of the Mountaineer defense. "I thought they were incredible tonight. They started the tempo in the attack, but most importantly they were able to keep Clemson to no corner kicks and low shots on-goal. It was incredible."
 
Abraham paced the field with three shots. Three Mountaineers – senior midfielder Nadya Gill, freshman defender Jordan Brewster and Ferrer-vanGinkel – tallied two shots each.
 
The WVU defense opened the match strong and denied CU a shot through the first 33 minutes. The Tigers' first look was dangerous, as CU worked the ball into the box before forward Olivia Bonacorso chipped a shot toward the net near the goal line. Foster dropped to her knees and stopped the ball for the clean save.
 
Brewster earned the first look of the match in the fifth minute, but her low shot high of the box was stopped at the left post by MacIver.
 
Sophomore Lauren Segalla nearly snagged a goal in the 15th minute, swiping the ball from a CU defender then immediately pushing forward. Defended, she earned a shot wide of the penalty line, but MacIver stopped the ball at the right post.
 
WVU earned five of its six corner kicks in the second half. Their third opportunity had potential, as the ball bounced out to St. Georges high of the box, but her shot from 28-yards out sailed above the crossbar.
 
Stahl displayed great effort in the 78th minute, pushing the ball the length of the field before creating her own chance wide of the left post. Her poke through two defenders dribbled into the box, but MacIver was there to scoop it up before a Mountaineer could connect.
 
The defense stood tall with just over a minute remaining in the match. After a yellow card was issued to Brewster in the 89th minute, a Tiger free kick in the lower third was sent toward the right post, but the Mountaineer backline cleared the ball. CU quickly recovered and again pushed through the box. Senior defender Easther Mayi Kith tipped the ball out, giving CU a potential corner kick, but the Tigers could not get the ball on the ground before time expired.
 
With the win, the Mountaineers move to 2-0 in the all-time series.
 
The Mountaineers return to Morgantown next week for their final pair of nonconference matches at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. WVU opens against Boston University on Thursday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m. It's a Gold Rush, and the first 500 fans in attendance will receive a gold shaker and a foam finger. Additionally, it's WVU Faculty/Staff night, and free admission will be given to all WVU faculty and staff members who show their WVU employee ID.
 
WVU faces Saint Francis (Pa.) on Sunday, Sept. 16, at 1 p.m. It's Youth Soccer Day, and fans who wear a youth soccer jersey will earn free admittance. A free postgame clinic for children ages 13 and under will follow the match. Additionally, the first 250 fans in attendance will receive a WVU jersey koozie.