MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University women’s soccer forward Nia Gordon has been named the Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Week.

 

The honor follows the Ocklawaha, Florida, native’s game-winning performance in the Mountaineers’ (1-1) 2-0 season-opening victory against SIUE on Aug. 21, at Indiana’s Hoosier Classic.

 

In her career debut, Gordon netted the team’s game-winning goal in the 20th minute, receiving the ball at the top of the 18-yard box from junior midfielder Ashley Lawrence and beating the SIUE defenders with her speed before sending a low shot toward the far left post. Gordon and classmate Hannah Abraham were the first freshmen to score in a season-opener for WVU since 2008.

 

Gordon started both of the Mountaineers’ matches at the Classic. She finished with two shots.

 

Iowa State’s Haley Albert and Lindsey Hendon were named the Big 12 Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively.

 

Also released today was the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division I Women’s Top 25 Poll, and the Mountaineers check in at No. 15, down three spots from their preseason ranking. WVU continues to be the highest-ranked Big 12 team, with Texas Tech dropping five spots and sitting at No. 20 this week.

 

The poll’s top three remain unchanged, as reigning National Champion Florida State (2-0) is No. 1, Virginia (1-0) is No. 2 and Stanford (1-0) is No. 3. Texas A&M (2-0) is up one spot to No. 4, and North Carolina (2-0) is up two to No. 5.

 

Penn State (2-0) checks in at No. 6 and is followed by Notre Dame (1-0), South Carolina (2-0), Virginia Tech (2-0) and Pepperdine (2-0).

 

WVU is ranked No. 11 in this week’s TopDrawerSoccer.com Top 25 Poll.

 

WVU followed its win against the Cougars with a 2-1 loss to VT on Aug. 23. The defeat snapped the Mountaineers’ program-record 20-match unbeaten streak.

 

The Mountaineers conclude their season-opening road trip at Maryland on Friday, Aug. 28, with first kick from Ludwig Field set for 7 p.m. The team opens its 2015 home season at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 30, against Duquesne, at 3 p.m.