UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - With just over 10 minutes to play in regulation, sophomore Shea Moyer (Wyomissing, Pa.) connected on her first career goal to lead the No. 4 Penn State women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over No. 9 West Virginia to open the 2018 season on Friday night at Jeffrey Field.
"It's a great feeling, opening night on Jeffrey Field, against West Virginia and to come home with a 1-0 win," head coach Erica Dambach said. "I love the shutout. The biggest thing for me tonight was our grit, we pride ourselves in a soccer playing team and the soccer wasn't great tonight. These guys took away our rhythm, West Virginia played their hearts out, but our team dug deep and I was proud that we brought Laura Suero off the bench late and we called upon her and she stepped up. Obviously, a great goal by Shea Moyer and Amanda Dennis [making saves] in the top corner left and right. Just a really solid group overall."
Junior Amanda Dennis (San Diego, Calif.) stepped up for her first save of the night during the 43rd minute of play. From just inside the 18-yard box, Alina Stahl placed a shot on goal, but Dennis was there to keep the match at 0-0.
Looking to get on the board late in the first half, the Nittany Lions (1-0-0) were fouled, which setup a free kick for Charlotte Williams (Rochester, N.Y.). Williams took the free kick attempt and placed a shot on goal, but WVU's Rylee Foster was able to corral the ball for her first save of the match.
The first half of play saw both teams combine for six total shot attempts, with WVU (0-1-0) outshooting Penn State, 5-1. With rain coming down on the field in the second half, the offense picked up for both teams. During the second half of play, West Virginia outshot Penn State, 8-6.
In the 79th minute, Dennis stepped up for a save on Sh'Nia Gordon to keep West Virginia off the scoreboard. Less than a minute after the Dennis save, Moyer tallied the Nittany Lions' first goal of 2018.
At 79:36, Moyer, from 14 yards out on the right side of the field, fired a shot past Foster and into the bottom-left corner of the net to put the Nittany Lions in front, 1-0.
Dennis picked up her, fifth and final, save of the night on Addison Clark during the 86th minute of play to secure the 1-0 shutout victory.
The No. 4 Nittany Lions close out the opening weekend of action on Sunday, Aug. 19, against Duquesne. The match is slated for a 2:30 p.m. start at Jeffrey Field.
NOTES: Penn State leads the all-time series against West Virginia, 9-7-2...Penn State has won two straight contests in the series...West Virginia outshot Penn State, 13-7...The Nittany Lions are now 427-113-37 all-time...Penn State improves to 233-26-13 all-time at Jeffrey Field...Penn State is now 13-0-2 when opening the season at home and 20-2-3 in home openers...Amanda Dennis recorded her eighth complete game shutout...Penn State played in front of a crowd of 3,126 fans at Jeffrey Field - the eighth largest Jeffrey Field crowd in program history...Penn State is now 10-0-1 in its 11 games at Jeffrey Field...Freshman Kim Dubs made her Penn State debut in the 31st minute.