MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – For the 14th straight season, the No. 4/5 West Virginia University women’s soccer team was recognized by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) for its academic diligence with the NSCAA Team Academic Award.

 

The Mountaineers were honored for a team grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher for the 2014-15 academic year.

 

“I’m so proud of the team and all the hard work the student-athletes continue to do to achieve success in the classroom,” said coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “(Associate director of student-athlete development) Stephanie White has done a great job of keeping this team focused and providing our athletes all the help they need to succeed.”

 

A total of 859 soccer teams (306 men, 553 women) posted a team GPA of 3.0 or higher. Of that total, 211 schools, including WVU, had their men’s and women’s programs recognized.

 

WVU, the three time reigning Big 12 Conference champion, opens its league schedule against Texas on Friday, Sept. 25, at 7 p.m., at DDSS. A special ceremony recognizing the program’s 20th season will take place prior to first kick. Mountaineer alums also will be honored at halftime as part of alumni weekend.

 

All fans will have the opportunity to take their picture with the team’s 2014 Big 12 regular-season and championship trophies prior to kickoff Friday night. Additionally, the first 200 fans through the gate will receive a WVU Big 12 t-shirt, and the first 100 Mountaineer Maniacs will receive gym shorts.