Late Goal Downs WVU

Thursday, October 10

Morgantown, W.Va.

7:00 p.m.

West Virginia University

7-5-1, 2-2-0Big 12

Texas Tech

11-1-1, 3-0-1Big 12

Team	1	2	Final F
Texas Tech	0	1	1
West Virginia	0	0	0

Photo by: All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks

October 10, 2019 10:42 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score Season Stats Nikki Izzo-Brown Postgame

By: Chris Pharis

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – A goal in the 72nd minute was the deciding factor as the West Virginia University women's soccer team fell to No. 14 Texas Tech, 1-0, in a hard-fought defensive battle on Thursday at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.

WVU (7-5-1, 2-2-0) suffered its first home loss of the season as a result, while Texas Tech (7-4-1) improved to 3-0-1 in the Big 12. The Mountaineers are now 25-3-2 all-time in home Big 12 matches.

The win extended TTU's unbeaten streak to 11 matches and marked the first time the Red Raiders have won in Morgantown. The Mountaineers hold a 7-3-1 record in the series and are now 3-1-1 in Morgantown.

"That was a tough one. I thought we battled hard against the No. 14 team in the country," Coach Nikki Izzo-Brown said. "Unfortunately, we just couldn't find the back of the net and (Texas) Tech finished tonight. But I was proud of the way this team battled."

It was a defensive battle through the first 45 minutes, as neither side could break the scoreless tie. The Mountaineers held a 3-1 advantage in corner kicks, while the Red Raiders led 6-3 in shots.

In the first start of her career, freshman goalkeeper Kayza Massey earned a big save in the 13th minute of action after she punched out a ball that threatened to put the Red Raiders ahead. WVU mounted several solid attacks throughout the opening period, registering three shots in the opening period, but failed to put a shot on net as the two teams entered the locker rooms with a scoreless tie.

As has been the case all season, the Mountaineers started the second half fast as sophomore Alina Stahl recorded the first shot of the half in the 47th minute that was deflected off a TTU defender. Senior forward Jade Gentile produced the best scoring chance of the night for the Mountaineers when she took the deflection and fired a shot that curved toward the left post before the Texas Tech goalkeeper make a diving save to keep the match scoreless.

The Red Raiders broke the scoreless tie in the 72nd minute after Hannah Anderson converted her third penalty kick of the year. The goal marked the first time this season that the Mountaineers have allowed a goal on a penalty kick.

West Virginia mounted a late attack, earning two corner kicks in the final three minutes, but could not produce a goal as the Red Raiders secured its first win over WVU since 2015.

The Mountaineers finished the match with an 11-5 edge in corner kicks, marking the fourth time this season that WVU has registered at least 10 corners.

Massey earned a game-high three saves in her first start as a Mountaineer. She has a 1-1 record this season after being credited with the win over Texas on Oct. 6.

West Virginia returns to Morgantown to take on No. 18 Oklahoma State on Thursday, Oct. 17. First kick from Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium is set for 7 p.m. WVU will host Social Media Night, Fans will have a chance to win prizes by solving clues and riddles posted by by the team's Twitter account, @WVUWomensSoccer.