WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University women's soccer team hits the road this Wednesday morning as they travel south to Bridgeport, West Virginia. Salem University hosts WLU  in a Wednesday afternoon match at the Bridge Sports Complex. Kickoff between the Tigers and Hilltoppers is set for 2:30 p.m. 

GAME DETAILS:

    Date: Wednesday, September 18, 2024 

    Opponent: Salem University 

    Locations: Bridgeport, West Virginia (The Bridge Sports Complex) 

    Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. 

WEST LIBERTY STORYLINES:

• First-year Head Coach Peter McMememy and the Hilltoppers are coming off an 2023 campaign that ended on a high note with the WLU squad's first postseason appearance since the 2018 season

• West Liberty posted a 7-8-4 record overall last fall but that mark was somewhat deceptive as four of WLU's eight losses came by the margin of a single goal

• The Hilltoppers were victorious seven times during the 2023 season, the most wins in program history since the team's inception in 2012 

• The Hilltoppers were picked third in the MEC North Division of the Mountain East Conference Preseason Poll

• The top three places in each division earn Mountain East Conference Tournament bids this November

• WLU are 0-3 through three matches played in the fall of 2024.

• The Hilltoppers were edged in their season opener on the road against Seton Hill (Pa.), 1-0. WLU suffered another non-conference loss a few days later 

• Fairmont State topped West Liberty, 5-1 in their mutual MEC opener yesterday afternoon at West Family Athletic Complex on the West Liberty campus 

• Freshman defender/midfielder Rylyn Bielinski netted her first collegiate goal and the first of the season for the Hilltopers in a loss against Fairmont State. 

• Senior midfielder Morgan Kost assisted on the play 

• Salem finished the 2023 season with an overall  record of 0-14-1 

• Head Coach Bryce Meche enters his first season as the helm of the Tigers program

• Salem is 0-3 to start the 2024 season. 

• The Tigers were defeated on the road in their season opener. Falling to W.Va. Wesleyan, 3-0

• Salem was topped by Lincoln University (Pa.) and Frostburg State in their following two matches 

SERIES HISTORY:

• This is the fifth meeting between the two programs. The Hilltoppers were victorious on three of those occasions. Salem defeated West Liberty, 3-2 in overtime back in September of 2018. The Hilltoppers won the next three matches and had clean sheets in all three of those outings. 

UP NEXT:

• Another road trip is next on the schedule for West Liberty. The Hilltoppers will travel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for a matchup against newly appointed Mountain East Conference member Point Park on Saturday, September 21. Kickoff between the Pioneers and Hilltoppers is set for 11:00 a.m. at Highmark Stadium.