HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – In the first Mountain State Derby on the women's side in over a decade, the West Virginia University women's soccer team earned a 2-0 win over in-state rival Marshall at Hoops Family Field in Huntington on Thursday night.
 
The match marked the first between the two teams since 2011, as well as the first in Huntington since 1999, and the Mountaineers (5-2) took care of business in the rivalry matchup. Junior midfielder Maya Leoni and senior forward Ajanae Respass scored for WVU in the win, as both recorded their first goals of the season in the final minutes of the first and second halves, respectively. Of note, Leoni's was her first as a Mountaineer.
 
A native of Miami, Florida, Leoni got West Virginia on the board late in the first half, scoring an Olimpico goal straight from a corner kick in the 39th minute. The ball was well-placed by Leoni before it was mishandled by the Marshall keeper to put the Mountaineers in the lead going into the half.
 
In the second half, it became a defensive battle between the two teams as Marshall grew eager for the equalizer in the waning minutes of the match. In the Herd's attempt to find the back of the net, Respass got on top of an errant throw in and dribbled into the 18-yard box, firing a shot for the Mountaineer insurance score in the 88th minute.
 
 Offensively, West Virginia outshout Marshall 13-3, while it placed five shots on goal. With the result, the WVU offense outshot every nonconference opponent this season. Additionally, four different Mountaineers took a pair of shots, while Leoni and Respass led the way with a goal apiece.
 
The Mountaineer defense was spectacular once again, earning its fifth clean sheet of the year and holding Marshall to zero shots on goal. The performance marked the third time this season WVU has denied an opponent a shot on goal, as well as the second time in as many matches. While redshirt junior goalkeeper Bailey Herfurth was not called upon to make a save in the contest, she earned her fourth straight shutout by intercepting several dangerous Herd crosses and corner kicks.
 
With the win, the Mountaineers improve to 5-0 all-time against Marshall, as well as 2-0 in games played in Huntington. Of note, the Thundering Herd has yet to score a goal against WVU in the series.
 
West Virginia now looks ahead to opening up Big 12 Conference play at UCF on Thursday, Sept. 18. Kickoff at the UCF Soccer and Track Complex in Orlando, Florida, is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
 
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUWomensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.