West Virginia Opens Big 12 Play at Cincinnati
September 11, 2024 02:44 PM | Women's Soccer
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University women's soccer team begins Big 12 Conference play on Thursday, Sept. 12, when it takes on Cincinnati. Kickoff at Gettler Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, is set for 7 p.m. ET.
The match will be broadcast on ESPN+, while live stats from the game also are available at WVUsports.com.
Entering its 13th Big 12 Conference season on Thursday, WVU boasts a record of 9-1-2 in Big 12 openers. The Mountaineers own a total record of 77-16-14 all-time in Big 12 Conference play since joining the league in 2012. WVU also boasts a winning record over 11 of the 12 conference opponents it has previously faced. This season's meetings with Arizona State and Colorado will mark the first with the two teams.
Thursday's contest marks the fourth meeting all-time between West Virginia and Cincinnati, as the Mountaineers hold a 2-0-1 lead in the series. The former Big East foes and now-Big 12 opponents met for the first time in 2007, with the Mountaineers earning a 2-0 victory in Morgantown on Oct. 7. In last season's meeting, the squads played to a 1-1 tie to wrap up the regular season in Morgantown on Oct. 23. The Mountaineers took the lead on a Cincinnati own goal in the 67th minute, before UC leveled the score in the 83rd to force the draw
Last time out, West Virginia capped nonconference play against Liberty on Sept. 8, settling for a 1-1 draw with the Lady Flames. Senior defender Annika Leslie scored an Olimpico goal straight from a corner kick in the waning minutes of the first half to put WVU ahead at the break. However, Liberty drew level in the 80th minute on a WVU own goal. In the final box score, West Virginia outshot Liberty, 12-8, as well as 7-3 in shots on goal. The Mountaineers earned seven corner kicks, compared to three for the Lady Flames.
Junior forward Ajanae Respass is pacing WVU this season with four goals, three assists and 11 points. She was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week and the WVU Student-Athlete of the Week after recording her second career brace against JMU on Sept. 5. She ranks third in the Big 12 Conference in total assists and in game-winning goals (2).
Erica Demers is in her second season at the helm in Cincinnati, leading the Bearcats to a 4-8-7 record in her first campaign in 2023. The season also included a 2-3-5 conference mark in the squad's inaugural season in the league. Cincinnati opens Big 12 play on Thursday after putting together a 4-2-1 nonconference record. The Bearcats are coming off a 1-0 loss to Xavier on Sept. 8.
Rylee Felton leads the Cincinnati offense with six goals and 13 points on the year, while Claire Rea has two assists so far this season. Anna Rexford has started every match between the posts for UC, notching 24 saves on the year.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUWomensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
The match will be broadcast on ESPN+, while live stats from the game also are available at WVUsports.com.
Entering its 13th Big 12 Conference season on Thursday, WVU boasts a record of 9-1-2 in Big 12 openers. The Mountaineers own a total record of 77-16-14 all-time in Big 12 Conference play since joining the league in 2012. WVU also boasts a winning record over 11 of the 12 conference opponents it has previously faced. This season's meetings with Arizona State and Colorado will mark the first with the two teams.
Thursday's contest marks the fourth meeting all-time between West Virginia and Cincinnati, as the Mountaineers hold a 2-0-1 lead in the series. The former Big East foes and now-Big 12 opponents met for the first time in 2007, with the Mountaineers earning a 2-0 victory in Morgantown on Oct. 7. In last season's meeting, the squads played to a 1-1 tie to wrap up the regular season in Morgantown on Oct. 23. The Mountaineers took the lead on a Cincinnati own goal in the 67th minute, before UC leveled the score in the 83rd to force the draw
Last time out, West Virginia capped nonconference play against Liberty on Sept. 8, settling for a 1-1 draw with the Lady Flames. Senior defender Annika Leslie scored an Olimpico goal straight from a corner kick in the waning minutes of the first half to put WVU ahead at the break. However, Liberty drew level in the 80th minute on a WVU own goal. In the final box score, West Virginia outshot Liberty, 12-8, as well as 7-3 in shots on goal. The Mountaineers earned seven corner kicks, compared to three for the Lady Flames.
Junior forward Ajanae Respass is pacing WVU this season with four goals, three assists and 11 points. She was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week and the WVU Student-Athlete of the Week after recording her second career brace against JMU on Sept. 5. She ranks third in the Big 12 Conference in total assists and in game-winning goals (2).
Erica Demers is in her second season at the helm in Cincinnati, leading the Bearcats to a 4-8-7 record in her first campaign in 2023. The season also included a 2-3-5 conference mark in the squad's inaugural season in the league. Cincinnati opens Big 12 play on Thursday after putting together a 4-2-1 nonconference record. The Bearcats are coming off a 1-0 loss to Xavier on Sept. 8.
Rylee Felton leads the Cincinnati offense with six goals and 13 points on the year, while Claire Rea has two assists so far this season. Anna Rexford has started every match between the posts for UC, notching 24 saves on the year.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUWomensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
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