For the second straight year, West Virginia’s women’s soccer team saw its season end in penalty kicks.
The No. 7 seed Mountaineers battled second-seeded Georgetown to a 1-1 draw in a NCAA Tournament second-round match Thursday evening at Shaw Field, before the Hoyas prevailed in penalty kicks, 4-3.
With a chance for a fourth penalty kick conversion and an opportunity to extend the match, Mountaineer freshman Ava Arnold narrowly missed doing exactly that as her PK deflected off the top crossbar and stayed out, allowing the Hoyas (16-3-2) to move on.
WVU (14-3-3) applied an abundance of pressure early and it paid off when Ajanae Respass accounted for the first goal 2:27 into the match off Taylor White’s assist.
If at first you don’t succeed … just try again 🤷♀️#HailWV | 📺 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/QN2tSeQdJj
— WVU Women’s Soccer (@wvuwomenssoccer) November 20, 2025
Georgetown had shutout the opponent in six straight home matches before Thursday.
The Hoyas offered a response 20 minutes later and got equal when Lizzie Heller found the back of the net. Georgetown’s Mary Cochran and Maja Lardner were each credited with an assist on their team’s lone goal.
GOALLLLLLLLL!!!
Watch Live https://t.co/gtFT1AfdIy #HoyaSaxa #HoyaBold #SurroundShaw pic.twitter.com/1HHt4mLN0N
— Georgetown Women’s Soccer (@HoyasWSoc) November 20, 2025
The 1-1 tie stood through regulation and the Mountaineers had an ideal opportunity to win in the first overtime when Maddie Levy worked her way into the 18-yard box and had a clean angle for a quality scoring chance, but her shot sailed wide.
Georgetown shot first in penalty kicks and gained the early advantage when Shay Montgomery scored, though Anna Hauer got WVU equal seconds later.
The Hoyas’ Henley Tippins converted her team’s second PK in as many chances before Nyema Ingleton followed suit for WVU.
After Lardner missed wide on Georgetown’s third PK, WVU had a chance to gain the advantage, but Maya Leoni had her attempt stopped by Hoyas’ keeper Cara Martin.
Heller then made it 3-2, before WVU turned to reserve goalkeeper Mackenzie Smith, who pulled her team even at 3.
Natalie Means found the back of the net on Georgetown’s fifth PK to make all the difference.
Martin and WVU keeper Bailey Herfurth made six saves apiece.
The Hoyas will play host to No. 3 seed Florida State on Sunday afternoon with a spot in a national quarterfinal at stake.
In their 2024 NCAA Tournament opener, the Mountaineers battled Kentucky to a 1-1 draw and fell short in penalty kicks, 4-2.