After opening the season on a scoreless draw against Indiana last Thursday, the floodgates opened for the Mountaineers, scoring five goals en route to a 5-1 win over Saint Joseph’s at home on Sunday.
The Mountaineers dominated from the opening kickoff, holding possession and creating chances, but it looked like it could be more of the same, as none of the chances were converted into goals.
Then, in the 38th minute, sophomore forward Rhea Kijowski found the back of the net on a pass from Aria Bilal to open the scoring for the Mountaineers. They would go into the half hold the 1-0 lead.
“Getting the first goal definitely hypes us up and makes us wanna get a second goal,” said sophomore forward Dilary Heredia-Beltran on the importance of getting the first goal.
It would not take long after halftime for the Mountaineers to strike again. Just a minute into the second half, senior midfielder Maddie Moreau put one past the Saint Joseph’s keeper to increase the lead to 2-0.
The two goal lead wouldn’t last long, when in the same minute Saint Joseph’s was awarded a penalty kick and Natalie Nevins slotted it past Mountaineers keeper Kayza Massey to make it 2-1.
Instead of standing back on their slim lead, West Virginia went on the offensive and found the goal two more times in the next five minutes. Goals from Emily Thompson and AJ Rodriguez helped push the lead to 4-1. Dilary Heredia-Beltran assisted both of the goals.
The final goal would come in the 78th minute, when WVU junior midfielder Chloe Adler put away a penalty kick of her own to increase the lead to 5-1.
The Mountaineers held possession for 65% of the match, and outshot Saint Joseph’s 24-5. The shots on goal were 16-5.
The Mountaineers will be back in action on Thursday, as they play their first away game at Penn State in University Park at 4 p.m.
Photo by Wesley Shoemaker, Blue Gold Sports
