MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia women’s soccer team moved up one spot to No. 6 in this week’s United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women’s National Poll.
The Mountaineers are coming off a 2-1 win against Baylor last week, at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium in Morgantown, marking the squad’s third consecutive victory. WVU has now been ranked in the poll’s top 10 for five straight weeks to begin the season.
Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, only teams competing in the fall were considered for the poll. The number of teams appearing in each ranking is also lower due to the number of teams competing, resulting in a top-15 poll this season.
No. 1 North Carolina (6-0) continues to hold the top spot, while No. 2 Florida State (6-0) ranks No. 2. Clemson (5-2) is up one spot to No. 3, while Duke (5-1-2) and TCU (4-0-1) round out the top five. After WVU, Arkansas (4-1) dropped to No. 7, with No. 8 Kansas (4-1), No. 9 Texas A&M (3-1) and No. 10 Virginia (5-2-1) rounding out the top 10.
A fourth Big 12 school, Oklahoma State (3-2-1), also is ranked in this week’s poll. The Cowgirls check in at No. 12.
The Mountaineers were ranked No. 7 in last week’s poll and have been slotted as high as No. 4 this season.
WVU (5-1, 5-1 Big 12) returns to action at 8 p.m. Friday at Norman, Okla. The match will air live on FOX Sports Oklahoma.
Robinson earns Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week
Sophomore defender Gabrielle Robinson of the No. 7 WVU women’s soccer team has been named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, the conference announced Tuesday.
Robinson tallied the game-winning assist in the Mountaineers’ 2-1 victory over Baylor last week. The Springfield, Va., native connected with senior midfielder Stefany Ferrer-vanGinkel on a long through ball into the box in the 68th minute, resulting in a goal. It marked Robinson’s first assist of the season.
Defensively, Robinson anchored a back line that allowed just three shots on goal and five total shot attempts to the Lady Bears.
