WEST CHESTER, Pa. — Fairmont State defeated Kutztown, 2-1, in Friday’s opening round of the NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer Championship. The win for the Falcons is the program’s first in NCAA tournament play, and they advance to play West Chester in Sunday’s second round at 1 p.m.

West Chester defeated the MEC’s other tournament representative, West Virginia State, 5-2 on Friday afternoon. Both of Friday’s matches were played at West Chester’s Rockwell Field, which will also be the site of Sunday’s second round meeting.

Fairmont State, which earned the MEC’s automatic qualifying berth and is seeded No. 6 in the Atlantic Region, rallied from a one-goal deficit to beat third-seeded Kutztown. Filippa Stalhammar, the 2025 MEC Defensive Player of the Year, recorded the first two-goal game of her college career. The graduate student from Sweden scored the equalizer in the 24th minute on an assist by Montserrat Diaz, and then tallied the game-winner in the 52nd minute.

Olivia Johnston made seven saves in goal for the Falcons, who improved to 17-1-3 on the season. Fairmont State carries a 13-match unbeaten streak into the second round that dates back to Oct. 5. The Falcons have 11 wins and two draws over that stretch.

West Virginia State scored equalizers in the 19th and 33rd minute against West Chester, but the Rams took the lead for good in the 42nd minute, and then scored twice in the second half to arrive at the final score.

The Yellow Jackets’ season ends at 15-5-1.