West Virginia Treks to Tempe for Match at Arizona State
September 25, 2024 02:00 PM | Women's Soccer
TEMPE, Ariz. – The West Virginia University women's soccer team begins its first-ever trip to the state of Arizona with a contest at Arizona State on Thursday, Sept. 26. Kickoff at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium in Tempe is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. MST.
The match will be broadcast on ESPN+, with Ryan Sykora and Adrian Pelayo on the call. Live stats from the game also are available at WVUsports.com.
Thursday's matchup marks the first-ever meeting between West Virginia and Arizona State. The Sun Devils are set to become the Mountaineers' 122nd different opponent all-time. Additionally, Arizona State is the second of three new opponents for WVU this season, as it met Delaware for the first time to open the season on Aug. 15. Over the last six years, WVU is 7-3-2 against first-time opponents, including 1-0 so far this season.
Last time out, West Virginia remained undefeated in Big 12 Conference play, collecting a 3-2 win over Kansas at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium on Sept. 22. In a chippy match that saw a combined 23 fouls and five yellow cards, the Mountaineers outlasted the Jayhawks to earn the victory.
Junior forward Ajanae Respass, fifth-year senior midfielder AJ Rodriguez and sophomore forward Abbey Olexa found the back of the net for WVU in the win. Olexa's score, which was credited as the eventual game winner, marked the first goal of her collegiate career. Fifth-year senior midfielder Lilly McCarthy, junior forward Taylor White and sophomore forward Jordyn Wilson were credited with assists in the win.
Respass is pacing the WVU offense this season with five goals, four assists and 14 points. McCarthy is tied with Respass for the team lead in assists, while White and Rodriguez are tied for second place on the squad in goals with four apiece. In the Big 12 Conference, Respass and McCarthy rank fourth in the league in total assists, while the duo is fifth in assists per game (0.40).
Graham Winkworth is in his eighth season as the head coach of the Sun Devils. Arizona State enters Thursday's matchup with a 6-1-3 record this season, including a 1-1-1 mark in Big 12 play. The squad is coming off a 1-1 draw at UCF on Sept. 22. Kierra Blundell leads the ASU offense with seven goals and 17 points on the season. In goal, Pauline Nelles has notched 40 saves with a 0.60 goals-against average this year.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUWomensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
The match will be broadcast on ESPN+, with Ryan Sykora and Adrian Pelayo on the call. Live stats from the game also are available at WVUsports.com.
Thursday's matchup marks the first-ever meeting between West Virginia and Arizona State. The Sun Devils are set to become the Mountaineers' 122nd different opponent all-time. Additionally, Arizona State is the second of three new opponents for WVU this season, as it met Delaware for the first time to open the season on Aug. 15. Over the last six years, WVU is 7-3-2 against first-time opponents, including 1-0 so far this season.
Last time out, West Virginia remained undefeated in Big 12 Conference play, collecting a 3-2 win over Kansas at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium on Sept. 22. In a chippy match that saw a combined 23 fouls and five yellow cards, the Mountaineers outlasted the Jayhawks to earn the victory.
Junior forward Ajanae Respass, fifth-year senior midfielder AJ Rodriguez and sophomore forward Abbey Olexa found the back of the net for WVU in the win. Olexa's score, which was credited as the eventual game winner, marked the first goal of her collegiate career. Fifth-year senior midfielder Lilly McCarthy, junior forward Taylor White and sophomore forward Jordyn Wilson were credited with assists in the win.
Respass is pacing the WVU offense this season with five goals, four assists and 14 points. McCarthy is tied with Respass for the team lead in assists, while White and Rodriguez are tied for second place on the squad in goals with four apiece. In the Big 12 Conference, Respass and McCarthy rank fourth in the league in total assists, while the duo is fifth in assists per game (0.40).
Graham Winkworth is in his eighth season as the head coach of the Sun Devils. Arizona State enters Thursday's matchup with a 6-1-3 record this season, including a 1-1-1 mark in Big 12 play. The squad is coming off a 1-1 draw at UCF on Sept. 22. Kierra Blundell leads the ASU offense with seven goals and 17 points on the season. In goal, Pauline Nelles has notched 40 saves with a 0.60 goals-against average this year.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUWomensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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