WVU Overpowers the Knights

Friday, September 20

Morgantown, W.Va.

7:00 p.m.

West Virginia University

4-3-1

Fairleigh Dickinson

2-5-3

Fairleigh Dickinson

West Virginia

Photo by: Jennifer Shephard

September 20, 2019 11:32 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score Season Stats Highlights Coach Nikki Izzo-Brown Postgame

By: Chris Pharis

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Sophomores Jordan Brewster and Isabella Sibley netted a goal each and the defense earned its third clean sheet of the season as the West Virginia University women's soccer team topped Fairleigh Dickinson, 2-0, on Friday at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.

WVU moved to 4-3-1 on the year with the win, while Fairleigh Dickinson fell to 2-5-3. The contest marked the first meeting between the two schools as FDU became the 114 different opponent that the Mountaineers have faced.

"I thought (Fairleigh Dickinson's) goalkeeping was incredible tonight," coach Nikki Izzo-Brown said. "That goalkeeper made some pretty incredible saves and I thought we gave her everything we had. I was pretty proud that we found two on such great goalkeeping."

The Knights earned the first chance of the day after registering their lone shot of the first half in the 12th minute before the Mountaineers took a 1-0 lead six minutes later on Brewster's first goal of the season. The score marked the third of Brewster's career.

West Virginia's offensive attack continued to pressure the Fairleigh Dickinson defense throughout the opening half, putting nine shots on goal with 18 total shots. Eleven different Mountaineers were credited with a shot in the first half, led by sophomore Lizzie Mayfield with three. Seniors Jade Gentile and Jessica Lisi paced the team in the shots on goal column, putting a pair of shots on net each.

WVU entered the locker room with an 18-1 advantage in shots and a 6-0 edge in corner kicks.

The Mountaineers continued the offensive barrage in the second half, as it opened the half with two shots in the first eight minutes.

Sibley doubled WVU's lead in the 53rd minute after she rebounded a Gentile shot and found the back of the net from just inside by the box. The unassisted score marked her second goal of the season and the second of her career.

Senior goalkeeper Rylee Foster recorded her 34th career shutout as WVU's defense earned its third shutout of the season. Foster needs three clean sheets to move into second on the all-time career shutouts list in WVU history. Friday's contest marks the fourth time that the WVU defense has held its opponents to five shots or less in a match this season.

WVU secured a season high in shots (32) and tied a season-high with 14 shots on goal. The Mountaineers outshot the FDU 32-3 in the contest, while holding a 9-0 advantage in corner kicks. WVU has outshot its opponents in six of its eight matches this year. The Mountaineers rank fourth in the Big 12 with 17 shots per game, through Friday.

Thirteen Mountaineers registered a shot in the match, led by Gentile and Mayfield with four. Gentile paced the squad with three tries on the night and leads the team with 15 this season.

West Virginia continues its homestand with a match against Bowling Green on Sunday, Sept. 22. First kick is set for 1 p.m. at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. Sunday's match will be the annual Youth Soccer Day. Fans who wear a youth soccer jersey will earn free admission, and a free postgame clinic for children ages 12 and under will follow the match. The Mountaineers will Lace Up 4 Pediatric Cancer and don gold shoelaces during the match to raise money for WVU Medicine Children's.