ELKINS, W.Va. – The Glenville State Women's Soccer team struck twice in the opening half and withstood a second-half push from Davis & Elkins to earn a 2-1 Mountain East Conference victory on Wednesday evening (Oct. 7). The Pioneers improved to (6-6) overall and (6-4) in MEC play with the road win.
1st Half
Glenville State established control early and broke through in the 12th minute when Solares Solano found the back of the net to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead. The goal marked Solano's fifth of the season and provided an early spark for the visitors.
Davis & Elkins looked for an equalizer midway through the half, but Lucia Lopez came up with several key saves. The Pioneers doubled their advantage in the 34th minute after a Davis & Elkins foul in the penalty area. Sofia Jalaksova converted the penalty kick to make it 2-0 and give Glenville State breathing room for the rest of the half. Glenville continued to generate chances before halftime, including a shot on target from Valentina Quiroz, but the score remained 2-0 at the break.
2nd Half
The Senators increased the pressure after halftime and controlled much of the possession, earning multiple corner kicks and forcing the Pioneer defense to step up. Lopez continued her strong performance in goal, making saves on shots from Vivian Kerr and Sophia Brown to preserve the two-goal lead. Davis & Elkins finally broke through in the 69th minute when Brown finished a pass from Brenda Castro to cut the deficit to 2-1.
With momentum on the home side, the Senators continued to attack throughout the final 20 minutes. Glenville State stopped multiple corner kicks and late shots from the Senators, preventing the tie and securing the conference victory.
Final Stats
Davis & Elkins
The Senators finished with a 16-7 advantage in total shots and placed eight attempts on target. Sophia Brown scored the lone Davis & Elkins goal, while Brenda Castro recorded an assist. The Senators also held a 5-3 edge in corner kicks and applied steady pressure throughout the second half.
Glenville State
The Pioneers scored both of their goals in the opening half, with Solares Solano finding the net in the 12th minute and Sofia Jalaksova converting a penalty kick in the 34th. Glenville placed five shots on goal and made the most of its opportunities early, building a lead that proved enough to earn the road victory.
Up Next For The Pioneers
Glenville State returns home Sunday (Oct. 11) as the Pioneers continue Mountain East Conference play against Wheeling. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Ike & Sue Morris Stadium.
