MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Redshirt freshman defender Gianna Koss of the West Virginia University women's soccer team has been named the Big 12 Freshman of the Week, the league announced on Wednesday.
 
Earning the first Big 12 weekly nod of her career, Koss started both matches and played 145 total minutes for the Mountaineers last week. Most notably, she helped the defense earn a shutout against Colorado on Oct. 20. The clean sheet marked WVU's eighth of the year, including the seventh at home this season. Koss and the back line held CU to just three shots on goal in the match.
 
Additionally, despite losing 1-0 to No. 19 Texas Tech on a penalty kick on Oct. 17, Koss and the West Virginia defense held TTU to just four shots on goal and defended all seven shots fired by the Red Raider offense in the match.
 
A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Koss has started all 17 matches for West Virginia so far this season. She also ranks fourth on the team with 1,285 minutes played, while she has notched one goal and one assist for WVU this year.  
 
West Virginia now prepares to cap the regular season on the road, traveling to take on Houston on Friday, Oct. 25. Kickoff at UH's Carl Lewis International Complex in Houston, Texas, is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
 
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUWomensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.