MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University women’s soccer team sits at No. 7 in this week’s National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division I Women’s Rankings.

 

The position sets the stage for a battle between top-10 teams on Aug. 26, at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium, as Clemson (2-0) ranks right behind the Mountaineers (1-0-1) at No. 8. The squads will meet at 7 p.m. Friday night.

 

 

The Mountaineers’ ranking is one spot below their preseason position. WVU is the highest-ranked Big 12 Conference team, as Texas Tech (2-0) sits at No. 16.

 

Florida State (1-0) ranks No. 1, and Duke (2-0) is No. 2. Stanford (2-0), Virginia (2-0) and Penn State (1-0-1) round out the top five.

 

Florida (2-0) ranks ahead of WVU at No. 6, and North Carolina (2-0) and Connecticut (2-0) follow Clemson at No. 9 and No. 10.

 

WVU opened the 2016 season with a strong showing at the PSU Invite, earning a 1-1 double-overtime draw with the host Nittany Lions on Aug. 19 and defeating Buffalo, 2-0, on Aug. 21. The squad’s win Sunday was career victory No. 300 for 21-year coach Nikki Izzo-Brown.

 

Friday night’s home season opener against the Tigers is a Dollar Night, and all tickets, small drinks, popcorn and bags of Skittles will be available for $1 each. WVU Students are admitted free with a valid WVU Student ID. Prior to kickoff, the Mountaineer Maniacs will host a tailgate with free Qdoba for all members in attendance.

 

Friday night also is Poster Night, and all fans in attendance will receive a WVU women’s soccer schedule poster. Additionally, it’s a Gold Rush, and all fans are asked to show their Mountaineer Pride by wearing gold Friday night.