ORLANDO, Fla. – The West Virginia University women's soccer team is set to open Big 12 Conference play on the road against UCF on Thursday, Sept. 18. Kickoff at the UCF Soccer and Track Complex in Orlando, Florida, is slated for 7 p.m. ET.
 
The contest will be streamed live on ESPN+, while live stats also are available at WVUsports.com.
 
Entering its 14th Big 12 Conference season on Thursday, WVU boasts a record of 10-1-2 in Big 12 openers. The Mountaineers own a total record of 81-18-15 all-time in regular season, Big 12 Conference play since joining the league in 2012. WVU also boasts a winning record over 11 of the 14 conference opponents it has previously faced. Furthermore, West Virginia is unbeaten against seven league foes.
 
Thursday's matchup marks the fifth all-time meeting between West Virginia and UCF, as the Mountaineers hold a 3-1 advantage in the series. WVU and UCF met for the first time in 1998, with the Mountaineers earning a 2-1 overtime victory in Orlando on Sept. 27. West Virginia has beaten UCF in every matchup but one, a Sept. 14, 2023, contest which resulted in a 4-2 loss in Orlando. The two programs last met in 2024, with the Mountaineers coming away with a 1-0 win at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
 
Last time out, West Virginia earned a 2-0 win over in-state rival Marshall at Hoops Family Field in Huntington on Sept. 11. 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. Leoni's score was credited as the game winner, while it also marked her first goal as a Mountaineer.
 
Offensively, West Virginia outshot Marshall 13-3, while it placed five shots on goal. The Mountaineer defense was spectacular once again, earning their 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.
 
Senior forward Taylor White, junior forward Abbey Olexa and sophomore midfielder Maddie Levy are tied for the team lead with three goals apiece this season. Additionally, White paces the offense with four assists and 10 points.
 
Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak is in her 13th season as the head women's soccer coach at UCF. The Black Knights enter Thursday's contest with a 6-1 record so far in 2025, coming off a 2-0 win over North Florida in their nonconference finale on Sept. 11. Liza Worden leads the UCF offense this season with two goals, four assists and eight points on the year. Goalkeeper Genesis Perez Watson has registered 22 saves this season.
 
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUWomensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.