MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – Iowa State (3-6-1) fell to defending Big 12 champion West Virginia (3-5-2) on Thursday night at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium by a score of 1-0.

Both teams entered tonight’s contest searching for their first win of the Big 12 slate as each dropped their opening match. The Cyclones held strong with the Mountaineers, warding off shot after shot before WVU finally broke through in the 76th minute off a Maya McCutcheon goal.

Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Avery Gillahan was phenomenal for the Cyclones on the evening, as she saved nine shots, tying her career-best. Gillahan had multiple full-body extensions to keep Mountaineer points off the board.

Iowa State tallied seven shots on the evening, with a pair apiece coming from Salomé Prat and Lilly Touhey. WVU, on the other hand, sent 19 shots the way of Gillahan, with seven being on target, making her work all night.

The game began with the Mountaineers putting pressure on the Iowa State backline immediately. WVU tallied three shots in the first five minutes of action, but Iowa State was able to handle them all and smooth out the defense from there.

The first half was a balanced one where each team had a handful of shots (three for ISU, six for WVU) and each keeper came away with two saves as the two teams entered the break tied nil-nil.

ISU had a great shot from Leia Khairy that West Virginia keeper Kayza Massey, a preseason All-Big 12 Team member, laid out to deflect to keep ISU off the board in the 37th minute of play.

In the second half, West Virginia really ratcheted up the offensive pressure as the Mountaineers laced 13 shots in the Cyclones’ direction. Gillahan was able to navigate the barrage of attempts until the final 15-minute mark.

In the 76th minute, WVU’s Isabel Lopez sent a cross into the box where Maya McCutcheon controlled the carom and sent a left-footed shot into the back-right of the net to give WVU its difference-maker.

West Virginia outshot ISU 19-7 on the night and had six more corners, tallying an 11-5 advantage. Gillahan came away with more saves on the evening, as she recorded nine saves to Massey’s four.

Fannon’s Thoughts 

“It speaks volumes of where this team has come that we are bitterly disappointed to come away with nothing from this match. We’ve performed well in so many facets of the game but we need to be ruthless in the big moments.”

Goals 

Iowa State: N/A

West Virginia: Maya McCutcheon (76’)

Assists

Iowa State: N/A

West Virginia: Isabel Loza

Up Next 

Following its first road Big 12 match, the Cyclones will head to Cincinnati to take on the Bearcats in the two teams’ first-ever meeting. Iowa State and Cincy are set to play on Sunday, Sept. 24, at 11 a.m. (CT) and the match will be streamed on ESPN+.