MORGANTOWN, W.Va.  – The No. 22-ranked West Virginia University women's soccer team takes on its second straight top-10 opponent on Friday, Sept. 6, as it faces rival Penn State in Morgantown. Kickoff at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium is set for 7 p.m. ET.

Friday has been designated the annual Gold Rush match, and the first 500 fans in attendance will receive a gold jersey towel. All fans are encouraged to wear gold to the match to support the Mountaineers. Additionally, select beverages will be half off from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m.

Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance by visiting WVUGAME.com to avoid lines at the gate on game day. When purchasing online, tickets are $5 each and $3 for groups of 10 or more. All tickets are general admission.

At the stadium ticket window, tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for youth and seniors and $3 for groups on game day. The discounted online pricing will be available until kickoff of the match.

WVU students are admitted for free with a valid WVU Student I.D.

"Penn State as much as we feel we are a rivalry, we respect what they do and how they do it," Coach Nikki Izzo-Brown said. "The girls know what's at stake, they know what kind of level Penn State brings. They are the reigning Big 10 champs and they've obviously had great runs in the NCAA Tournament. They're a very strong program."

WVU enters Friday's match with a 2-2 record in 2019 after the Mountaineers bested High Point, 3-0, on Aug. 30, and fell at No. 6 Virginia, 4-1, on Sunday. Freshman Julianne Vallerand leads the Mountaineers with six points on three goals on the year.
Senior goalkeeper Rylee Foster is tied for first in the Big 12 with two shutouts, while she ranks fifth in the league with eight saves.

Friday's match marks the eighth time since 2012 that the Mountaineers and Nittany Lions have met as ranked opponents. Penn State (3-1) holds the all-time advantage in the series with a 9-7-2 record, while the two squads have won four games each in Morgantown.

Riding a three-game win streak into Friday's match, the Nittany Lions are led by junior midfielders Frankie Tagliaferri and Sam Coffey, who have registered eight and seven points, respectively.

In the last meeting between the two teams, a strong defensive showing by the Mountaineers was thwarted by a one-timer shot, as the No. 9-ranked West Virginia University women's soccer team fell, 1-0, at No. 4 Penn State in its 2018 season opener.