MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – No. 2 West Virginia pitched its nation-leading 13th shutout and closed its final regular-season homestand in commanding fashion, defeating Iowa State 4-0 in women’s soccer action Sunday.
The Mountaineers (14-1-1, 5-0-1) placed 12 of their 38 shots on goal while holding the Cyclones (6-11, 0-7) to just one shot each half. Iowa State became the sixth opponent this season to fail to earn a corner kick.
“There’s a high standard of success here at WVU, and winning today and earning the shutout was just icing on the cake for our final regular-season homestand,” said Mountaineers coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “I’m so proud of this team and our seniors. They’re extremely special, and I’m so fortunate to coach them.”
Unbeaten in 30 straight conference home matches, West Virginia broke through in the 25th minute as Kailey Utley sent a low shot from the left wing that beat Lindsey Hendon to the far right post. Fellow senior Amanda Hill initiated the score with a through ball.
Heather Kaleiohi gave the Mountaineers a 2-0 halftime lead by stealing the ball from a defender before ripping a shot from the top of the box—her first career goal.
WVU pushed its lead to three in the 56th minute. Defender Kadeisha Buchanan sent a through ball to a streaking Michaela Abam. Hendon came off her line for the challenge, but Abam reached the ball first and sent in a hard shot for her team-best 10th goal.
West Virginia iced the match in the 86th minute off a 25-yard blast from freshman defender Hannah Abraham.
Ashley Lawrence was inches from earning the fastest goal in program history, but her chance at the right post just 48 seconds into the match was blocked by Hendon.
“This team has the understanding and the passion to know that we just have to buckle down and work for goals,” said Izzo-Brown. “This game is so cruel. We understand that sometimes even the easiest goals don’t go into the back of the net. You just have to have perseverance.”
The Cyclones’ best chance came in the 51st minute after a free kick bounced around inside the box before landing at the feet of Jordan Enga. The midfielder sent a falling shot toward the net, but Mountaineers senior Hannah Steadman was there for the catching save.
Steadman, who finished with two saves for her 10th shutout of the season, ranks fifth all-time at WVU with 21 shutouts.
It marked the final home regular-season contest for six Mountaineer seniors, a class that has amassed a four-year record of 56-12-12.