MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The climb continues for the West Virginia University women’s soccer team, as the Mountaineers check in at No. 4 in today’s TopDrawerSoccer.com Top 25 Poll.

 

The ranking matches the team’s highest ranking in any poll in the program’s 20-year history. WVU last ranked No. 4 in the Soccer Buzz Poll on Nov. 4, 2002.

 

 

WVU’s one-spot jump follows a two-win weekend which saw the Mountaineers (7-1) defeat their second ranked opponent in as many weeks, as well as push their win streak to six matches and their season shutout total to seven.

 

The Mountaineers are the only non-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) team ranked in the top five. Texas Tech, the second Big 12 Conference team in today’s poll, checks in at No. 17.

 

Virginia (6-0-1) continues to rank No. 1. Florida State (6-1), the reigning NCAA champion, ranks No. 2, and North Carolina (7-0-1) is No. 3. Notre Dame (7-0-1) follows WVU at No. 5.

 

Penn State (6-1-1) sits behind the Mountaineers at No. 6. Stanford (5-1), last week’s No. 2 team, ranks No. 7, while Virginia Tech (8-0-1), the only team to defeat WVU this year, ranks No. 8. BYU (6-1) and Clemson (6-0-1) round out the top 10.

 

A goal from Kadeisha Buchanan in the 77th minute pushed the Mountaineers to a 2-0 win at then-RV/15 Ohio State on Sept. 11. The junior defender connected on a header inside the six-yard box for her first goal of the season. Kailey Utley added an insurance goal in the 78th minute. Buchanan and the defense held the Buckeyes to just five shots, and senior Hannah Steadman made three saves.

 

The Mountaineers returned to Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium on Sept. 13 and cruised to a 4-0 win over Longwood. Sophomore forward Michaela Abam tallied two goals, including the game-winner in the 13th minute, while the Mountaineer defense denied the Lancers a shot. Longwood became the third opponent of the season to fail to tally a shot on-goal.

 

WVU has outshot its opponents 192-34 through eight games.

 

WVU concludes its nonconference slate next weekend with two matches at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. The Mountaineers will play host to Buffalo on Friday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m., and Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday, Sept. 20, at 1 p.m.

 

Sunday is a “Dollar Day,” and a tickets and select concessions will be available for $1 each. Additionally, Youth Soccer Day is scheduled for Sunday, and all youth teams in attendance will have an opportunity to participate in a parade at halftime.