LAFAYETTE HILL, Pa. — West Liberty University men's soccer (2-0-0) remained unbeaten to open the 2026 season with a 2-0 victory over Chestnut Hill (1-1-0) Sunday at Victory Field.
The Hilltoppers controlled much of the match offensively, while goalkeeper
Shai'ya Fitzgerald anchored a strong defensive effort with five saves to record his second consecutive shutout.
West Liberty generated several scoring opportunities early in the first half, with
Leyton Collier and
Jasper Newton among those testing Chestnut Hill goalkeeper Max Bond. Bond turned aside several early attempts to keep the match scoreless.
The Hilltoppers finally broke through in the 44th minute when Newton converted a penalty kick, giving West Liberty a 1-0 advantage heading into halftime. Newton finished the match with eight shots.
West Liberty continued to apply pressure after the break while Fitzgerald and the Hilltopper defense kept Chestnut Hill off the scoreboard. Fitzgerald made key saves on attempts by Emmanuel Sampson and Mohamed Bility as the Griffins looked for an equalizer.
Chestnut Hill created several opportunities in the second half, including multiple corner kicks, but several shots went wide or high and Fitzgerald was there when needed.
West Liberty then added an insurance goal in the 86th minute when Collier found the back of the net to push the lead to 2-0.
Collier finished with six shots, including three on goal, while Newton recorded eight shots and converted the penalty kick for the game-winning goal. Fitzgerald's five saves completed the shutout.
The victory moves the Hilltoppers to 2-0-0 on the season.
NEXT UP: West Liberty returns home Wednesday, Sept. 9, for its Mountain East Conference opener against Point Park. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at the West Family Athletic Complex.
West Liberty University blends a small-town environment with a comprehensive college experience, fostering students' aspirations through hands-on learning, personalized support, and unique academic programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Learn more at
westliberty.edu.
