MORGANTOWN, W.V. – Goals by Ellie Wheeler and Kerry Abello powered #7 Penn State to a 2-0 road win over #13 West Virginia Thursday night. The Nittany Lions improved to 4-0 on the season and 10-7-3 all-time against the Mountaineers.
How it Happened
The West Virginia offense looked to press the Nittany Lion backline in the early portion of the first half. The Mountaineers recorded the first shot of the match but Katherine Asman made her first save of the match. Asman would make a season-high six saves in the match.
Elle Kershner nearly gave Penn State the lead in the eighth minute as her shot slammed off the woodwork and was cleared away.
Abello and Sam Coffey both registered shots in the 10th and 11th minutes but were unable to find the back of the net.
Asman made another save in the 13th minute to keep the Mountaineers off the scoreboard.
Penn State continued to pressure the West Virginia and earned a corner in the 29th minute. This corner resulted in the first goal of the match. Sam Coffey sent a ball into the box and Wheeler flicked her header into the far corner of the net to put Penn State up 1-0.
The goal was the first of Wheeler's Nittany Lion career.
A little over one minute later, Abello blasted a shot into the upper 90 for her first goal of the season and put the Nittany Lions up two goals.
Penn State went into the half with their two goal lead thanks in part to two more saves by Asman.
The Nittany Lions defense limited the Mountaineers chances in the second half to five shots and just one on shot goal.
The stout Penn State defense held firm and kept the Mountaineers of scoreboard for the Nittany Lions second shutout of the season.
Notes
In their last 11 matchups, Penn State is 6-2-3 vs West Virginia
Sam Coffey added to her NCAA leading assist total to 48 in her career.
Kerry Abello scored her first goal since 2019. Abello played on the back line for all of last season for the Nittany Lions.
Head coach Erica Dambach now has 275 wins in her career, 235 as Penn State's head coach.
With the win, Penn State collect its 477th win in program history.
The 4-0 start is the longest undefeated streak since 2005.
