Two Earn Big 12 Weekly Honors
- WVU Up Three Spots in NSCAA Poll -
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (September 1, 2015) – Kailey Utley and Kadeisha Buchanan of the West Virginia University women’s soccer team were named the Big 12 Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, today.
The honor is the third career weekly award for Buchanan, the two-time reigning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, and the first career award for Utley.
A senior forward, Utley’s honor follows a five-point weekend for the St. Louis, Missouri, native, as she tallied the game-winners in a 1-0 victory at Maryland on Aug. 28 and in a 5-0 defeat of Duquesne on Aug. 30, at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. The goal against the Dukes came 2:47 into the match and was the 10th-fastest score in Mountaineer history. Utley has notched a goal in three straight games and ranks No. 1 in the Big 12 in goals (3) and game-winners (2). She also assisted on a score by Michaela Abam, giving her a team- and conference-best seven points (3 G, 1 A).
Buchanan, a junior defender and native of Brampton, Ontario, anchored the Mountaineers’ defense and helped push the team’s shutout total to three over the weekend, as WVU handed the Terps and the Dukes their first losses of the season. The Mountaineers held the two teams to seven combined shots. Maryland placed two shots on-frame, while Duquesne was held without a shot on-goal, the second opponent in four games WVU has denied a clean look at the net. The Terps did not earn a corner kick Friday, and DU secured one chance. WVU has allowed only 18 shots, five on-goal, through four games this year.
For her defensive efforts over the weekend, Buchanan also was named to TopDrawerSoccer.com’s Team of the Week.
Iowa State’s Klasey Medelberg and Kansas’ Parker Roberts were named co-Freshmen of the Week.
The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division I Women’s Top 25 Poll also was announced today, and the Mountaineers moved up three spots to No. 12. The ranking matches WVU’s (3-1) position in the preseason poll.
Virginia (3-0) ranks No. 1 for the first time this season. Stanford (2-0) follows at No. 2, while Texas A&M (4-0) is No. 3, North Carolina (4-0) is No. 4 and Florida State (3-1), last week’s top team, drops to No. 5.
Notre Dame (4-0) ranks No. 6 and is followed by Penn State (3-0-1), WVU’s next opponent, at No. 7. Florida (3-1), BYU (3-0) and Virginia Tech (3-0-1) round out the top 10.
WVU ranks No. 11 in this week’s TopDrawerSoccer.com Top 25 Poll.
The Mountaineers continue their homestand against the Nittany Lions on Friday, Sept. 4, at 7 p.m. The match is a “Gold Rush,” and all fans are encouraged to wear gold. The first 200 Mountaineer Maniacs also will receive a women’s soccer t-shirt. Additionally, the team will celebrate its 20th season with a special pregame celebration.
WVU then welcomes Villanova on Sunday, Sept. 6, at 1 p.m. Local youth soccer players are encouraged to wear their team jerseys to the match, and the first 20 through the gates will receive a free red hair braid. The Mountaineers will meet with fans and sign autographs following the contest.
Fans also can now purchase tickets online in advance for any home match by visiting WVUGAME.com and selecting the Print-At-Home or Mobile Delivery options.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUWomensSoccer on Twitter.
- WVU Up Three Spots in NSCAA Poll -
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (September 1, 2015) – Kailey Utley and Kadeisha Buchanan of the West Virginia University women’s soccer team were named the Big 12 Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, today.
The honor is the third career weekly award for Buchanan, the two-time reigning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, and the first career award for Utley.
A senior forward, Utley’s honor follows a five-point weekend for the St. Louis, Missouri, native, as she tallied the game-winners in a 1-0 victory at Maryland on Aug. 28 and in a 5-0 defeat of Duquesne on Aug. 30, at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. The goal against the Dukes came 2:47 into the match and was the 10th-fastest score in Mountaineer history. Utley has notched a goal in three straight games and ranks No. 1 in the Big 12 in goals (3) and game-winners (2). She also assisted on a score by Michaela Abam, giving her a team- and conference-best seven points (3 G, 1 A).
Buchanan, a junior defender and native of Brampton, Ontario, anchored the Mountaineers’ defense and helped push the team’s shutout total to three over the weekend, as WVU handed the Terps and the Dukes their first losses of the season. The Mountaineers held the two teams to seven combined shots. Maryland placed two shots on-frame, while Duquesne was held without a shot on-goal, the second opponent in four games WVU has denied a clean look at the net. The Terps did not earn a corner kick Friday, and DU secured one chance. WVU has allowed only 18 shots, five on-goal, through four games this year.
For her defensive efforts over the weekend, Buchanan also was named to TopDrawerSoccer.com’s Team of the Week.
Iowa State’s Klasey Medelberg and Kansas’ Parker Roberts were named co-Freshmen of the Week.
The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division I Women’s Top 25 Poll also was announced today, and the Mountaineers moved up three spots to No. 12. The ranking matches WVU’s (3-1) position in the preseason poll.
Virginia (3-0) ranks No. 1 for the first time this season. Stanford (2-0) follows at No. 2, while Texas A&M (4-0) is No. 3, North Carolina (4-0) is No. 4 and Florida State (3-1), last week’s top team, drops to No. 5.
Notre Dame (4-0) ranks No. 6 and is followed by Penn State (3-0-1), WVU’s next opponent, at No. 7. Florida (3-1), BYU (3-0) and Virginia Tech (3-0-1) round out the top 10.
WVU ranks No. 11 in this week’s TopDrawerSoccer.com Top 25 Poll.
The Mountaineers continue their homestand against the Nittany Lions on Friday, Sept. 4, at 7 p.m. The match is a “Gold Rush,” and all fans are encouraged to wear gold. The first 200 Mountaineer Maniacs also will receive a women’s soccer t-shirt. Additionally, the team will celebrate its 20th season with a special pregame celebration.
WVU then welcomes Villanova on Sunday, Sept. 6, at 1 p.m. Local youth soccer players are encouraged to wear their team jerseys to the match, and the first 20 through the gates will receive a free red hair braid. The Mountaineers will meet with fans and sign autographs following the contest.
Fans also can now purchase tickets online in advance for any home match by visiting WVUGAME.com and selecting the Print-At-Home or Mobile Delivery options.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUWomensSoccer on Twitter.
