Charleston, W.Va. – The University of Charleston women's soccer team kicked off their 2025 campaign with a challenging home opener against nationally ranked No. 10 Gannon University, falling 3-0 at the Welch Athletic Complex.

The Basics

• Location: Welch Athletic Complex
• Final Score: UC 0, GU 3
• Records: Charleston (0-1-0), Gannon (1-0-0)

How It Happened
The match began with intense pressure from the Golden Knights, who dominated possession early and pinned Charleston deep in their own half. Within the opening 15 minutes, Gannon had already fired five shots, while the Golden Eagles worked to settle into their rhythm. UC started to find momentum midway through the first half, with freshman Mya Mills making a strong debut. Her pace and creativity on the right flank sparked the offense, highlighted by a dangerous cross that reached Allison Freese, whose shot missed the target. Despite UC's growing presence, Gannon struck first in the 23rd minute when Brooklyn Respecki unleashed a powerful strike from 25 yards to put the visitors ahead. Gannon nearly doubled the lead minutes later, but a stellar save from Sofia Mosquera kept the score 1-0 heading into halftime.

The second half saw Gannon come out aggressively, scoring just three minutes in with a well-placed shot from the left side. From there, the visitors controlled the tempo, using their physicality and high press to limit UC's chances. A third goal came in the 65th minute off a long-range free kick, putting the game out of reach. Charleston made several substitutions in an effort to generate offense, but Gannon's defense held firm. One of Charleston's brightest moments came late in the match when Anaé Buhlmann broke through the back line and forced a red card from the Gannon goalkeeper in the last five minutes. However, the Golden Eagles were unable to convert the late advantage, and the match ended 3-0 in favor of the visitors.

Up Next
Charleston returns to action at home on Saturday, September 6 at 1:00 PM, when they host Walsh University.