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Stefany Ferrer-vanGinkel continues to lead the #7 West Virginia women’s soccer team

Good morning! This is the Shotgun Throwdown, your daily West Virginia sports roundup.

2011 Big East Conference Women’s Soccer Championship Photo by BIG EAST Conference/Getty Images

Football

Half of WVU’s season to be played in a 5-week stretch starting with KU

Coming off of their second bye week of the season, West Virginia is gearing up for a stretch of games that will make up half of their regular season. A run of five games in five weeks begins Saturday at noon when the Mountaineers host Kansas at Milan Puskar Stadium. Much of this past bye week has been focused on player development for WVU.

Basketball

Bracket Announced for Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic

The Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic is a new event whose eight men’s programs have a combined 70 appearances in the Sweet Sixteen and 20 trips to the Final Four. The field of men’s teams includes West Virginia, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Memphis, Wichita State, Utah, Dayton, and Creighton. All 12 games will air live on the ESPN family of networks.

Women’s Basketball Begins Preseason Practice

West Virginia women’s basketball coach Mike Carey welcomes back seven players from last year’s 17-12 team that won 13 of its first 14 games before hitting a tough stretch in mid-January. Carey believes this year’s team will be much deeper in the paint with Kari Niblack, Esmery Martinez, Rochelle Norris, and Blessing Ejiofor returning.

Soccer

Stefany Ferrer-vanGinkel named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week

West Virginia’s Stefany Ferrer-vanGinkel was named the Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Week. The lone senior for WVU received the honor from the Big 12 after netting the Mountaineers’ game-winning goal against Texas Tech over the weekend. After the road victory, WVU returns to Morgantown to host Baylor. The Mountaineers are currently undefeated at home this season.

Stefany Ferrer-vanGinkel leading Mountaineers in senior season

Senior midfielder Stefany Ferrer-vanGinkel of the #7 West Virginia women’s soccer team has been the brightest star for the Mountaineers this season. The Barcelona, Spain, native has three goals in the 2020 season so far and is tied for second in the nation for game-winning goals and is #11 nationally in total goals. In both categories, she is tied for # 1 in the Big 12.

WVU women’s soccer climbs in national ranking

The West Virginia women’s soccer team is up two spots to #7 in this week’s United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women’s National Poll. The Mountaineers, who are coming off a 2-1 win at Texas Tech, have now been ranked inside the poll’s top 10 for four consecutive weeks to begin the season. WVU is also 4-1 this season.

West Virginia Athletics

Mountaineer rifle ranks No. 3

The West Virginia rifle team ranks #3 in the first regular season poll from the College Rifle Coaches Association. WVU ranked #3 in the final CRCA Poll of the 2019-20 season after finishing second at the Great America Rifle Conference Championships. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mountaineers did not compete at the NCAA Championships.

WVU Opens TCU Series on ESPNU

Following a pair of top-10 victories at Kansas last week, the West Virginia volleyball team returns to Morgantown for a two-match series against TCU tonight and tomorrow. Thursday’s match will air live on ESPNU at 7 p.m. ET. Friday’s contest will be carried live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+, starting at 6 p.m. ET.

WVU rifle to host NCAA Championships in 2025

The NCAA Championships for rifle are coming back to the WVU Coliseum. West Virginia will officially host the 2025 NCAA Rifle Championships in 2025. This will be the second time WVU hosts the NCAA Championships for rifle, after the Mountaineers hosted in 2019.

Cleary Looks Ahead to 2020 Season

As the West Virginia cross country team prepare for its first meet in the 2020 season this week, it is time to hear what head coach Sean Cleary expects to see from his team this season. Entering his 14th season with the WVU cross country and track and field teams, Cleary has led the Mountaineers to six NCAA top-10 finishes since 2007 and has coached 10 runners to a combined 13 All-Big 12 honors since joining the conference in 2012.

Tennis Withdraws from Fall Circuit Event

In accordance with Big 12 health and medical regulations, the West Virginia tennis team will not compete in the 2020 Intercollegiate Tennis Association and Universal Tennis Fall Circuit this weekend. Yesterday, the ITA announced that this weekend’s event had been moved from The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, to Lotito City Park in Bluefield, Virginia.

Mountaineers in the Pros: Week 5

In Week 5 of the 2020 NFL Season, nine former Mountaineers saw action. Kyzir White led the Chargers in a career high total tackles with 15 in a loss to the Saints. Take a look at how the rest of the former West Virginia players did for their NFL teams.

Around the Big 12

TCU’s Peterson Earns National Player of the Week

TCU junior Brandi Peterson was tabbed National Player of the Week as announced by the United Soccer Coaches. Peterson, who has played every minute this season, helped the Horned Frog defense deflect 18 shots at # 4 Oklahoma State. She scored her first career goal just 30 seconds into overtime to give TCU its first-ever win over a top-five ranked team.

BU, ISU, TCU and WVU Collect Week 5 Accolades

West Virginia’s Stefany Ferrer-VanGinkel earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors, while TCU’s Brandi Peterson was named Defensive Player of the Week. Iowa State’s Jordan Silkowitz was selected as the Goalkeeper of the Week, while Baylor forward Mackenzie Anthony was named Freshman of the Week.

Eggleston, Bramschreiber & Crawford Earn Volleyball Awards

Logan Eggleston of Texas claimed her third-consecutive Big 12 Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week. Baylor’s Shanel Bramschreiber earned her first Defensive Player of the Week, and Caroline Crawford of Kansas was named the conference Rookie of the Week.

Around the NCAA

NCAA grants eligibility relief to winter sport athletes

The NCAA Division I Council has granted eligibility relief to winter sport athletes as a response to the coronavirus pandemic. According to a statement from the DI Council, any student-athlete who competes in a winter sport this year will receive both “an additional season of competition and an additional year in which to complete it.”

Division I Council introduces transfer exception proposal

Student-athletes in all Division I sports could be granted immediate eligibility after transferring if a new proposal is adopted. Currently, athletes in several sports, including football, baseball, and men’s and women’s basketball, are not eligible to transfer and compete immediately without a waiver.

Alabama football coach Nick Saban, athletic director Greg Byrne test positive for COVID-19

Alabama head football coach Nick Saban tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday and is self-isolating at home while continuing to oversee his team’s practices via Zoom. Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne also tested positive on Wednesday.

Derrick Henry is a throwback to when running backs were as important as QBs

Derrick Henry’s brutal running style made him an NFL star on his own terms. While the existence of the power back has slowly slipped away from modern football in favor of the vertical passing game, Henry is a throwback to the days when the starting tail back felt every bit as important as the quarterback.

SB Nation NFL Expert Picks, Week 6: Bears vs. Panthers is the most intriguing matchup of the week

Our panel is starting to find their rhythm in the season, and everyone is close in total record, but this week there is one game that has split the experts: Bears vs. Panthers.

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