WVU Drops Big 12 Opener at UCF

ORLANDO, Fla. – The West Virginia University women’s soccer team suffered a 4-2 defeat in its Big 12 Conference opener against league newcomer UCF in Orlando, Florida, on Thursday night.
 
Despite a seemingly even final box score, the Knights dominated the match and scored three unanswered to take the victory from the Mountaineers (2-5-2). WVU tried to claw back, but it wasn’t enough as UCF claimed its first-ever Big 12 match.
 
West Virginia got on the board first with a 10th-minute goal from senior midfielder Isabel Loza. Sophomore forward Taylor White fed the ball into the box to find Loza for her first goal of the season. From there, UCF scored two quick goals before the first-half buzzer to take a lead into the locker room.
 
Out of the half, the Knights added on to their lead quickly, scoring another in the 50th minute. However, the Mountaineers drew one back after UCF was whistled for a foul in the box. Fifth-year senior forward/defender Julianne Vallerand took the penalty kick and drained it for a 3-2 score line. It wasn’t enough though, as UCF once again added to its lead in the 78th minute to take the 4-2 victory.
 
Despite the final score, WVU and UCF were even with 14 shots apiece, while the Knights led 7-4 in shots on goal and 5-4 in corner kicks. Loza and Vallerand led the West Virginia offense with one goal each, while four other Mountaineers tallied two shots.
 
Sophomore goalkeeper Mackenzie Smith earned her first career start on Thursday night, making a pair of saves before fifth-year senior keeper Kayza Massey came in for the second half and grabbed two saves of her own.
 
With the loss, WVU moves to 2-1 all-time against UCF and 1-1 in games played in Orlando after the two teams met for the first time since 1999, as well as the first time as Big 12 foes. Additionally, West Virginia is now 9-1-2 in Big 12 Conference openers.
 
After a week idle, West Virginia returns to Morgantown for its Big 12 home opener against Iowa State on Thursday, Sept. 21. Kickoff at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium in Morgantown is tabbed for 7 p.m. ET. It’s the Mountaineers’ Diversity and Inclusion Game as a part of WVU’s Campus Diversity Week, while WVU faculty and staff will be admitted free with an employee ID as part of Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night.
 
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUWomensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.