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WSOC 23 Dhiramo Linares
Photo: Todd Griffith
1
Glenville St. GSU (1-1-1, 0-1-0)
2
Winner West Virginia St. WVSU (1-2-0, 1-0-0)
Glenville St. GSU
(1-1-1, 0-1-0)
1
Final
2
West Virginia St. WVSU
(1-2-0, 1-0-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Glenville St. GSU 0 1 1
West Virginia St. WVSU 1 1 2

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | | James Garcia, Sports Information Director

Women's Soccer triumphs over Glenville in home opener

INSTITUTE, W.Va. – Dark skies cleared for a beautiful evening at Lakin-Ray Field at Dickerson Stadium on Sunday as West Virginia State (1-2, 1-0 MEC) hosted Glenville State (1-1-1, 0-1 MEC) for the Yellow Jackets' women's soccer home opener. WVSU picked up its first win of the 2023 season by a final score of 2-1 and started its conference schedule with maximum points in the process.

"Our girls fought hard, from the start till the end, and I couldn't be more proud of them," remarked first-year Head Coach Brandon Slewa upon earning his first career win.

There was not much action to speak of in the opening 15 minutes of the contest. Then in the 18th minute, the match suddenly sprang to life when winger Esther Dhiramo scored her first goal of the season. She picked up a pass from fellow winger Sandra Linares before dishing the ball to striker Karissa Vela at the top of the 18-yard box. Vela then gave the ball right back to Dhiramo who continued her run and finessed a shot around the opposing goalkeeper for a poised finish, 1-0.

The Pioneers tried to come up with an immediate response and fired off three shots within a three-minute span shortly after the goal. One of the three shots required a save from goalie Laura Galindo.

GSU spent the remainder of the first half on the front foot and got off three more shots, one of which needed to be saved by Galindo again. West Virginia State only managed to make one shot in the same time period which came off a corner kick and went wide of the net.

The first yellow card of the match was handed out to Glenville's Aitana Viejo in the 39th minute and set the tone for a much more aggressive second half.

Within three minutes of the start of the second half, the Pioneers equalized with an incredible free kick from distance. Glenville's Mackenzie Hendricks lined up over the ball from 30 yards out at an extreme angle to the goal. She struck the ball with force and curled the shot into the top right corner of the net to barely beat a leaping Galindo, 1-1.

Five minutes after the game-tying goal, Dhiramo broke free and was upended by Glenville's goalkeeper inside the 18 yard box to earn a penalty. Midfielder Alba Closa stepped up to the spot and tried to slot the ball into the bottom left corner but was denied by the recently yellow carded Abigail Morales.

The justice of the soccer gods did eventually prevail when Linares got between Morales and a GSU defender to intercept a pass and score a casual goal right in front of the net, 2-1. The go-ahead goal was scored in the 56th minute leaving plenty of time for the Yellow Jackets to defend their lead.

Glenville State was only able to get off six shots in the remaining 34 minutes of the match. Galindo saved the two shots that stood a chance at finding the back of the goal. She ended up with six saves by the end of the contest to help her team to victory.

GSU finished the match with 16 shots and seven on target compared to 10 shots with four on goal by WVSU. 

Dhiramo opened her scoring account for the season while Vela made her first assist of the year. Linares became West Virginia State's leading goal scorer on the season with her second of the year.

The Yellow Jackets will travel to preseason favorites Concord next on Wednesday, Sept. 13 for a statement match. The kickoff is scheduled for noon.
 
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