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AMES, Iowa - Sophia Nickel got back in the scoring column and 10th-ranked West Virginia bounced back from its first loss of the season in a 2-0 shutout victory against Iowa State on Sunday inside the Cyclone Sports Complex.
Nickel, who had been held without a goal since Aug. 23, scored her fourth of the season in the seventh minute, taking in a pass from teammate Anna Hauer and sending it into the goal off her left foot.
That was good enough for a 1-0 halftime lead and WVU (6-1-2, 1-1-1 Big 12) made it 2-0 when Abbey Olexa scored in the 56th minute off a rebound goal.
Hauer found herself with two shots at the net. One was saved by Iowa State keeper Eme McClenahan and the second was saved by an Iowa State defender, but Olexa then took control of the possession and found the top left of the goal with her right foot for her third goal of the season.
The Mountaineers were trying to bounce back from a 2-0 loss against Colorado and did just that against the struggling Cyclones (4-5-2, 0-3). WVU outshot Iowa State, 15-7, and the Mountaineers had eight shots on goal.
WVU also picked up its fourth shutout of the season, as goalkeeper Bailey Herfurth recorded three saves.
West Virginia returns to the pitch, at 8 p.m. Friday, when the Mountaineers host Houston inside Dick Dlesk Stadium. The Cougars are at the top of the Big 12 standings with a 3-0 league mark and are the highest scoring team in the conference with 28 goals.