MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA — West Virginia's fourth consecutive victory came down to clinical finishing on Thursday night. The Mountaineers defeated Cincinnati 2-1 in front of a sold-out crowd at Dick Dlesk Soccer Complex, with Ajanae Respass and Anna Hauer combining to break through a stubborn Bearcats defense. Cincinnati's Maddie Swingle answered late, but West Virginia's early control proved the difference in a match that saw the hosts dominate possession throughout.
Respass opened the scoring in the 25th minute when she capitalized on a Maddie Levy delivery, giving West Virginia an early advantage. The goal came after the Mountaineers had controlled much of the first half's tempo, though Cincinnati's defense kept the margin manageable. Hauer doubled the lead in the 46th minute, just moments into the second half, as Levy found her again with a well-placed assist. The quick strike seemed to have settled the contest, but Cincinnati refused to fade quietly.
The first half unfolded as a tactical affair, with West Virginia pressing high and Cincinnati looking to exploit space on the counter. Laura Zemberyova tested the Mountaineers' backline with a blocked shot in the opening minutes, while Abbey Olexa's efforts on the other end went just wide. Neither goalkeeper faced overwhelming pressure early, though West Virginia's midfield controlled the rhythm. Cincinnati made three substitutions before halftime—removing Megan Smith, Rylee Felton, and Zemberyova—suggesting tactical adjustments to combat the Mountaineers' buildup play.
West Virginia emerged from the break with immediate intent, and Hauer's quick strike made it 2-0 within the opening minute of the second half. The Mountaineers appeared poised for a comfortable finish, but Cincinnati's adjustments at the break began to pay dividends. The Bearcats generated more attacking opportunities as the half progressed, earning five corner kicks compared to West Virginia's three for the entire match.
Swingle pulled one back in the 57th minute with a finish from Coley Sidloski's assist, injecting genuine tension into the closing stages. Cincinnati pressed aggressively in search of an equalizer, forcing West Virginia into a defensive shell. Megan Smith tested the Mountaineers' goalkeeper with a blocked shot, while Swingle herself had another chance go just wide. The Bearcats' desperation nearly paid off, but West Virginia's backline held firm through the final moments.
The statistics told the story of West Virginia's dominance. The Mountaineers outshot Cincinnati 11-6 overall and 6-1 on target, controlling the game's tempo for long stretches. Cincinnati's goalkeeper made four saves to keep the deficit manageable, while West Virginia's defense didn't require such heroics. Emma Gioffre received a yellow card late for Cincinnati, a sign of the Bearcats' frustration as time wound down.
Levy's two assists proved the difference-maker for West Virginia, orchestrating the early breakthrough and the second-half insurance goal. Hauer's clinical finishing and Respass's positioning in the box gave the Mountaineers the edge they needed. For Cincinnati, Swingle's goal provided a glimmer of hope but came too late to alter the outcome.
The victory extends West Virginia's winning streak to four matches and improves their record to 13-2-3, keeping them firmly in contention for NCAA Tournament positioning. Cincinnati, meanwhile, falls to 5-8-6 after back-to-back wins earlier in the week, a reminder of the inconsistency that has plagued their season. West Virginia hosts Oklahoma on November 2, while Cincinnati travels to face Baylor in their next conference matchup.