A Historic Week for the Mountaineers
The West Virginia University women's soccer team celebrated a milestone as two of its own were named Big 12 Players of the Week, a rare double honor that underscores the program's rising momentum.
Senior defender Olivia Shertzer captured the Defensive Player of the Week award after delivering a decisive, unassisted strike from 30 yards out in a 2-1 victory over Penn State, while also anchoring a backline that kept three consecutive opponents to three shots or fewer.
Junior forward Sophia Nickel followed up with an Offensive Player of the Week nod, having scored game-winning goals in each of the team's opening three matches, including the first two contests of the season, a feat that highlights her knack for delivering under pressure.
The recognitions are not just personal milestones; they also mark historic firsts for the program. Shertzer becomes the first Mountaineer to earn Defensive Player of the Week since Jacey Rase in 2025, while Nickel is the first offensive player to receive the honor since Taylor White in the same year.
Adding to the narrative, Nickel's three consecutive game-winning goals make her the first WVU player since 2006 to find the net in the first three matches of a season, a testament to her early-season impact.
Looking ahead, the Mountaineers will test their early-season form on the road, heading to Princeton for a matchup scheduled for August 27 at 7 p.m. ET, where they aim to translate their defensive solidity and offensive spark into another positive result.