MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 7-ranked West Virginia University women’s soccer team used a pair of early goals to help it take down Texas, 2-1, on Friday night at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
The Mountaineers tallied two goals less than a minute apart from each other to help them to the Big 12, home victory. Junior defender Jordan Brewster scored on a penalty kick in the 17th minute before redshirt junior forward Lauren Segalla added to the lead moments later.
“Texas was putting all sorts of pressure on us with direct play, but I thought we responded well to that,” WVU coach Nikki Izzo-Brown said. “We found two in the back of the net, we had a lot of looks, and I credit the goalkeeping of Texas – she was incredible. But we’ll take the two (goals) and the win.”
WVU (3-1, 3-1 Big 12) attacked early, registering multiple shots in the opening five minutes of the contest. However, it wasn’t until the 17th minute when the Mountaineers cashed in. After sophomore forward Enzi Broussard was fouled inside the box, Brewster scored on a penalty kick to make it 1-0.
Then, it was Segalla’s turn to finish. After a ball was played up the field Segalla made the most of a big opportunity when the pass was deflected off the Texas goalkeeper and defender, resulting in an open look at the net and easy, tap-in goal.
The tally resulted in the eventual game-winner, marking the fifth of Segalla’s career and her first since Nov. 10, 2018, against Radford in the NCAA Tournament.
Texas (1-3, 1-3 Big 12) responded in the 24th minute with a goal of its own, which beat junior goalkeeper Maddie Murphy far post to draw within one of the lead. Still, the Mountaineers remained in control, outshooting the Longhorns, 13-3, in the first 45 minutes of play.
“I thought we created a lot of chances, but we didn’t finish enough,” Izzo-Brown said. “But I thought we came out with some high intensity, and we really attacked.”
In the second half, West Virginia created several more opportunities for an insurance goal, like in the 66th minute, when Broussard pushed a shot just wide from inside the 6-yard box. The chance was set up by a ball played into the box by redshirt sophomore defender Mackenzie Aunkst.
A few minutes later, Murphy was called upon as she made her lone save of the night in the 69th minute. The Mountaineers went on to outshoot UT, 18-4, including 7-2 in shots on goal.
WVU also recorded 10 corner kicks on the night, to Texas’ three. With the win, the Mountaineers improved to 9-2-1 all-time against the Longhorns, including four victories in a row.
Broussard led the way with a team-high five shots in the win, while five others – Segalla, junior midfielder Isabella Sibley, senior midfielder Stefany Ferrerr-vanGinkel, sophomore defender Julianne Vallerand and freshman midfielder Lilly McCarthy – registered multiple shots on the night.
Next up, West Virginia returns to the road to take on Texas Tech on Friday, Oct. 9. Kickoff in Lubbock, Texas, is set for 8:15 p.m. ET.
