CLEMSON, S.C. — The West Virginia University women’s soccer team snagged its first road victory of the season with a 2-1 victory at Clemson on Friday night.
A free kick from junior goalkeeper Rylee Foster sparked the game-winning goal, as she perfectly placed the ball in the box for senior forward Hannah Abraham, who swiftly headed it toward the left post for her first goal of the season.
“We grinded against a great ACC team. Give Clemson a lot of credit – they’re a tough team,” Mountaineers coach Nikki Izzo-Brown said. “Our team was super focused on what they each needed to do in their position to find the win.”
After watching their 1-0 lead disappear on a Tigers goal in the 68th minute, the Mountaineers (2-2-3)earned a chance 12 minutes later when Clemson’s Mackenzie Smith was issued a yellow card just over midfield. Foster’s kick sailed into the box, and Abraham timed her run perfectly, heading the ball in for her seventh career game-winner and first since Aug. 27, 2017.
“Hannah Abraham was able to find the ball and time her run – it was a no-quit mentality,” said Izzo-Brown. “I think we’ve been knocking, knocking, knocking, and the girls knew they needed to be a little bit more brave, a little bit more focused – and, that’s what Hannah brought.”
The Mountaineers enjoye a 15-7 edge in shots on the Tigers (4-3).
MEN: UCF 1, West Virginia 0
ORLANDO, Fla. — Despite 10 saves from goalkeeper Steven Tekesky, the West Virginia men suffere a 1-0 loss at UCF on Friday night.
On a muggy night, the Mountaineers (2-2) were out-shot 11-2 in the first half, but Tekesky stopped all seven shots that came on goal. The Knights (3-1-1) opened the second half with a goal in the 48th minute that proved to be the difference.
Tekesky’s 10 saves are tied for the eighth-most in a single match in program history. He is the first Mountaineer goalkeeper to post double-digit saves since Alec Boerner was credited with 11 in 2015, at Princeton.