MORGANTOWN — Despite playing with a disadvantage after a red card early in the second half, the West Virginia women’s soccer team managed to defeat the visiting James Madison Dukes, 2-0, on Thursday under the lights at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
WVU (4-2) junior forward Ajanae Respass scored both goals for her side with one in each half, upping her total to four goals on the year and keeping the Mountaineers unscathed at home this season in four contests.
The Mountaineers finished the game with 11 shots, five of which were on target, while not allowing JMU (1-2-3) a single attempt on frame despite playing 10-on-11 for nearly half of the contest after Goalkeeper Bailey Herfurth was disqualified with a straight red card after a handball outside of the box.
“JMU is a solid team whose record does not indicate what type of team they are,” WVU head coach Nikki Izzo-Brown said. “For us to go down a player and stick together like that shows how tight-knit this group is that we have. They’ve already been a joy to coach this season and I’m proud of their performance tonight.”
Both teams managed positive offensive possession in the opening 15 minutes within the attacking third of the field. The Dukes pressured successfully down the left wing with defender Shea Collins, but WVU redshirt freshman Gianna Koss did well to hold off the danger.
The Mountaineers found the opening goal just before the 20-minute mark in the first half as Respass broke the ice with her first of the evening. She saw the ball at her feet after Olivia Shertzer played it into the box from the left wing and slotted it into the back of the net to put WVU ahead 1-0.
“Sometimes it’s about being in the right place at the right time and Ajanae is good at that and is getting better,” Izzo-Brown said. “I’m proud of how she goes out early and grinds out there. She is good at anticipating, reading her teammates, and getting in the spots to take advantage of chances.”
The first half ended with the same scoreline, but it didn’t take long for the Mountaineers to double the lead via a Respass brace in the second half.
Less than three minutes into the second half, WVU forward Taylor White made a dangerous run behind the JMU defense and played a pinpoint pass for Respass, who fired into an empty net for her second score of the match and a 2-0 lead for the Mountaineers.
Shortly after the goal, the Dukes’ found some hope as Herfurth came off her line to collect a ball outside the box. Her pass was too weak and intercepted and quickly fired toward the goal. Herfurth stopped the attempt with her hands while outside of the 18-yard box and received a red card, disqualifying her from the game and giving JMU a one-player advantage with 40 minutes left to play.
But the Mountaineer defense settled in well and preserved the clean sheet, earning a solid 2-0 win over JMU.
West Virginia will return to Dick Dlesk on Sunday to host Liberty with kickoff set for 1 p.m.
