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MORGANTOWN, -- The West Virginia University women's soccer team opens its 29th season of competition today when it welcomes Delaware to Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium for a 7 p.m. match.
In addition to marking the first contest of the 2024-25 WVU Athletics season, the Mountaineers will be hosting a Back-to-School Drive during Thursday's match. Fans will be given a raffle ticket to win WVU women's soccer gear for every three items donated. The winner of the raffle will be announced at halftime.
Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance by visiting WVUGAME.com or calling 1-800-WVU GAME. When purchasing online, tickets are $6 each. Any remaining tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for youth and seniors at the stadium ticket window on match day.
WVU student tickets also will be made available at the Mountaineer Ticket Office, located at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. The office, as well as the stadium gates, opens at 6 p.m., on game day. WVU students are admitted for free with a valid WVU Student I.D.Entering her 29th season as the program's only head coach, Nikki Izzo-Brown has led the Mountaineers to a 390-138-73 overall record. WVU returns 16 letterwinners off the 2023 squad, as well as six starters. Twelve newcomers are set to join the team this fall, including five freshmen and seven transfers.
Eighteen of the 27 different Mountaineers who earned playing time last season return to the squad this fall.
Twelve different players found the back of the net last season, and of those, eight return to the team in 2024, including junior forward Taylor White who paced the scoring efforts with nine goals last year. All but two of the 11 different players who were credited with an assist last fall return to West Virginia's roster this year, including senior forward Dilary Heredia-Beltran who led the team with six helpers in 2023. White and Heredia-Beltran return as WVU's leading point earners, tallying 20 and 12, respectively, last season.
Of note, fifth-year senior midfielder AJ Rodriguez was named to the 2024 Preseason All-Big 12 Team, marking her first career preseason honor.