lawrence-main-102715.jpg
WVU No. 2 in Poll; Lawrence Honored
October 27, 2015 01:25 PM | Women's Soccer
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – With one regular-season contest remaining, the historical climb in the national rankings continues for the West Virginia University women’s soccer team, as the Mountaineers are up one spot to No. 2 in today’s National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Poll.
Additionally, junior midfielder Ashley Lawrence was named the Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Week today. The honor is the first career offensive award for the Toronto native and comes on the heels of her two-assist performance in the Mountaineers’ (15-1-1, 6-0-1) 2-1 overtime victory at Oklahoma State on Oct. 23.
“This has been an award I have working toward achieving for some time,” said Lawrence. “I’m just thankful to contribute to the team’s victory on Friday night and to help us get that much closer to achieving our overall goals for the season.”
The Mountaineers’ move in the poll follows their Big 12 regular-season title clinching performance at OSU, as the victory gave WVU at least a share of the regular-season crown, its fourth straight Big 12 regular-season title. WVU can claim the outright title with a Baylor loss or draw in one of its final two matches. The squads meet in the regular-season finale on Friday, Oct. 30.
WVU sat at No. 3 for two weeks before today’s move. The Mountaineers have ranked within the top 10 every week but two this season. Prior to this year, WVU hit No. 6 three times in 2006.
Following a 1-0 win over then-No. 1 Florida State on Oct. 25, Virginia (13-1-1, 7-1) is this week’s top team. The Seminoles (13-2-2, 6-1-2 ACC) dropped two spots to No. 3. Stanford (14-2, 8-0 Pac-12) and Virginia Tech (14-2-2, 6-2-1 ACC) rank No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.
The Cavaliers received 27 first-place votes this week. FSU received two, and WVU and Stanford each received one. The Mountaineers own a 23 point edge over the Seminoles.
Florida (13-3-1, 7-2-1 SEC) ranks No. 6 and is followed by: Clemson (12-3-1, 6-3 ACC), North Carolina (13-3-1, 6-3 ACC), Rutgers (13-2-2, 6-2-2 Big Ten) and Penn State (12-3-2, 7-2-1 Big Ten).
Texas Tech (9-3-5, 2-2-3) is the only other Big 12 team ranked this week and moved up three spots to No. 18.
Lawrence’s honor is the Mountaineers’ conference-best seventh of the season. She paces WVU and ranks No. 2 in the Big 12 with seven helpers on the season. Both assists came in critical points Friday evening, as she set up the first goal of the night, Carla Portillo’s score in the 66th minute, and pushed the ball ahead in the 94th minute for Kailey Utley’s game-winner.
The two-assist performance was Lawrence’s first of the season and the fourth of her career.
Oklahoma junior goalkeeper Kassidie Stade was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, and Baylor forward Lauren Piercy was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Week.
The Mountaineers and the Bears will meet at 8 p.m. ET Friday night at Betty Lou Mays Soccer Field, in Waco, Texas.
Nikki Izzo-Brown & Alicia Riggins | Wagner Postgame | Nov. 14
Saturday, November 15
Nikki Izzo-Brown | Nov. 10
Monday, November 10
WSOC | Cincinnati Cinematic Recap
Friday, October 31
Ajanae Respass | Cincinnati Postgame | Oct. 30
Thursday, October 30
