MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Three different Mountaineers found the back of the net as the West Virginia University women's soccer team earned a 3-0 win over Akron inside Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium on Thursday night.
 
In the second game of a doubleheader with the West Virginia men's team, WVU (1-1) struck early in the 16th minute and then added two goals in the second half to earn its first victory of the season. Junior forward Abbey Olexa earned the game winner, the second of her career, while freshman midfielder Ava Arnold and senior forward Taylor White added tallies in the 49th and 52nd minutes, respectively.
 
 
Olexa's goal, which was the first of the season for West Virginia, was an impressive one, as she sent a rocket into the upper left corner of the goal after a well-placed service from junior midfielder Anna Hauer. Hauer's assist marked her first point as a Mountaineer.
 
In the second half, Arnold scored her first career goal for West Virginia after a service from Olexa and White. The final goal of the match came off the foot of White following a well-placed ball from redshirt junior Roxanne Vilain. Olexa and White each tallied a goal and an assist on the night.
 
Offensively, West Virginia recorded 19 shots, eight shots on goal and eight corner kicks. Arnold and sophomore Maddie Levy led the way with three shots apiece.
 
The Mountaineer defense earned their first clean sheet of the season, holding Akron to no shots or corner kicks in the match. It marked the 19th time West Virginia has held a team to zero shots on goal since 2016, as well as the first since Sept. 1, 2024.
 
Four newcomers, including redshirt freshman Christina Salama and freshmen Isabel Ceaser, Kailyn Effah and Josie Johnson, earned their first minutes as Mountaineers against the Zips on Thursday.
 
The Mountaineers now prepare for their first road match and second top-25 matchup of the season, as they travel to University Park, Pennsylvania, to take on No. 14 Penn State on Sunday, Aug. 24. Kickoff at PSU's Jeffrey Field is set for 3 p.m. ET, and the match will be broadcast nationally on Big Ten Network.
 
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUWomensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.