FAIRMONT, W.Va. – Fairmont State keeper Taylor Kennedy stoned the West Liberty University women's soccer team on two golden scoring chances in the second half here to hand the Black and Gold a 2-0 setback in Mountain East Conference action at Duvall-Rosier Field.
    The MEC North Division leading Falcons (4-2-1, 3-0-1) got a goal from Ella Wilson midway through the first half and that proved to be all they needed to send the Hilltoppers (1-5-1, 1-2-1) away without a result thanks to Kennedy's second-half heroics.
    West Liberty nearly came up with the equalizer in the 58th minute on a 10-yard laser off the foot of Alyssa Rhinaman only to see Kennedy leap high to tip the ball just over the crossbar for a huge save.
    The Hilltoppers weren't finished. Stepping up the pressure as time began to wind down, a well-struck cross threaded its way through traffic to find Sonata Beasley on the doorstep in the 76th minute. A diving took the ball off Beasley's foot and deflected it just wide of the cage.
    Fairmont clinched it in the 87th minute when Abby Johnson crossed the ball in to Mackenzie Gillespie on a right post run and Gillespie tucked it into the back of the net. It was Johnson's second assist of the match as she had fed Ella Wilson for the opening goal in the 21st minute.
    West Liberty finished with a 10-8 advantage in shots but Kennedy's 6 saves kept the Hilltoppers off the board as she earned her fourth shutout of the young season. Olivia Montgomery had 3 saves in net for WLU.
    The Hilltoppers return home to host Ohio County rival Wheeling on Wednesday in the nightcap of a men's/women's doubleheader at the West Family Athletic Complex. Kickoff for the women's match is set for 7:30 p.m.
    West Liberty                          0  0 – 0
Fairmont State                      1  1 – 2      FSU: Ella Wilson (Abigail Johnson), 20:51      FSU: Mackenzie Gillespie (Abigail Johnson), 86:04      Shots: West Liberty 10, Fairmont State 8
     Saves: West Liberty 3 (Olivia Montgomery 3), Fairmont State 6 (Taylor Kennedy 6)
     Corners: West Liberty 3, Fairmont State 3