Sunday, August 25
University Park, Pa.
Noon
West Virginia University
vs
Stanford
Photo by: All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks
No. 11 WVU Faces No. 3 Stanford in Happy Valley
August 24, 2019 07:14 PM | Women's Soccer
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 11-ranked West Virginia University women's soccer team concludes the opening weekend of the play with a neutral-site matchup against No. 3 Stanford on Sunday, August 25. Kickoff at Jeffrey Field in University Park, Pennsylvania, is set for noon ET.
"Obviously, Stanford is a final four team and they have enough returning experience to get back there this year," Mountaineer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown said. "It's going to be a great game and it's going to take everything we have to be successful on Sunday."
WVU enters Sunday's match with a 1-0 record in 2019 after the Mountaineers dropped Duquesne, 2-0, on Friday. Senior forward Jade Gentile scored the game-winning goal in the 25th minute, before freshman Julianne Vallerand added her first career goal in the 84th minute.
Senior goalkeeper Rylee Foster recorded her 32nd career shutout as WVU's defense held the Dukes without a shot in the contest. It marked the first time WVU has denied an opponent a shot since it held Saint Francis (Pa.) to zero shots on Sept. 16, 2018.
Stanford began the 2019 campaign with a 1-0 record after defeating No. 6 Penn State on Friday at Jeffrey Field. 2019 MAC Hermann Trophy winner and ESPNW Player of the Year Catarina Macario netted both Cardinal goals in the 2-1 win.
The Cardinal finished the 2018 season with a 21-1-2 overall record, and advanced to the College Cup and falling to the eventual national champion, Florida State.
West Virginia won the only previous meeting between the two schools, defeating No. 1 Stanford, 1-0, on August 26, 2012. Frances Silva scored the Mountaineers game-winning goal in the 83rd minute on a shot from the top of the penalty area. The win ended the Cardinal's unbeaten streak at 28 matches overall and 64 in the regular season.
The victory marked the first time in program history that WVU defeated a top-ranked team. West Virginia earned its second win over a No. 1-ranked team in 2017 with a 2-1 win over Penn State.
"Obviously, Stanford is a final four team and they have enough returning experience to get back there this year," Mountaineer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown said. "It's going to be a great game and it's going to take everything we have to be successful on Sunday."
WVU enters Sunday's match with a 1-0 record in 2019 after the Mountaineers dropped Duquesne, 2-0, on Friday. Senior forward Jade Gentile scored the game-winning goal in the 25th minute, before freshman Julianne Vallerand added her first career goal in the 84th minute.
Senior goalkeeper Rylee Foster recorded her 32nd career shutout as WVU's defense held the Dukes without a shot in the contest. It marked the first time WVU has denied an opponent a shot since it held Saint Francis (Pa.) to zero shots on Sept. 16, 2018.
Stanford began the 2019 campaign with a 1-0 record after defeating No. 6 Penn State on Friday at Jeffrey Field. 2019 MAC Hermann Trophy winner and ESPNW Player of the Year Catarina Macario netted both Cardinal goals in the 2-1 win.
The Cardinal finished the 2018 season with a 21-1-2 overall record, and advanced to the College Cup and falling to the eventual national champion, Florida State.
West Virginia won the only previous meeting between the two schools, defeating No. 1 Stanford, 1-0, on August 26, 2012. Frances Silva scored the Mountaineers game-winning goal in the 83rd minute on a shot from the top of the penalty area. The win ended the Cardinal's unbeaten streak at 28 matches overall and 64 in the regular season.
The victory marked the first time in program history that WVU defeated a top-ranked team. West Virginia earned its second win over a No. 1-ranked team in 2017 with a 2-1 win over Penn State.
Players Mentioned
GK
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's SoccerNikki Izzo-Brown & Alicia Riggins | Wagner Postgame | Nov. 14
Saturday, November 15
Nikki Izzo-Brown | Nov. 10
Monday, November 10
Ajanae Respass | Cincinnati Postgame | Oct. 30
Thursday, October 30
Nikki Izzo-Brown | Cincinnati Postgame | Oct. 30
Thursday, October 30
