INSTITUTE, W.Va. — The West Liberty University women's soccer team will open postseason play on Sunday afternoon when the Hilltoppers travel to top-seeded West Virginia State for a 1 p.m. kickoff in the 2025 Mountain East Conference Women's Soccer Championship Quarterfinals at Dickerson Stadium.

The matchup marks the third consecutive MEC Tournament appearance for Head Coach Pete McMenemy and the Hilltoppers, who have continued to raise the program's competitive standard within the conference.

West Liberty (4-13-1, 2-11-1 MEC) faced the Yellow Jackets earlier this season in Institute, battling back from a two-goal deficit before falling 3–2 in a tightly contested match. Sophomore Maya Taggart led the charge in that meeting with two second-half goals, while goalkeeper Cianna Butera made eight saves to keep the Hilltoppers within striking distance.

The Hilltoppers have relied on balanced team play this season, averaging 1.56 goals per game while creating scoring chances through 52 corner kicks and 18 assists. Butera anchors a resilient defensive unit that has recorded 139 saves on the year, one of the top marks in the conference.

West Virginia State (14-3-1, 14-1-1 MEC) enters as the South Division champion and the league's top seed after averaging 3.00 goals per game and holding opponents to just 1.17 goals per contest. The Yellow Jackets have scored 54 goals on the season and outshot their opponents 293–149.

Head Coach Pete McMenemy expressed pride in his team and excitement for the postseason challenge ahead. "I'm really proud of the group for qualifying for the playoffs for a third year in a row," McMenemy said. "We're looking forward to taking on a strong WVSU side and testing ourselves. The group is full of confidence and excited for the opportunity to compete in the tournament. I'm incredibly happy that they get the chance to play in knockout matches."

Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Dickerson Stadium in Institute, W.Va.