MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – After scoring two goals against JMU on Sept. 5, junior forward Ajanae Respass of the West Virginia University women's soccer team has been named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Wednesday.
 
The honor marks the first of Respass' career, after she transferred to WVU from Oregon in January. She also earns West Virginia's first conference nod this season, becoming the Mountaineers' first conference player of the week since Mackenzie Aunkst was tabbed the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 18, 2023. Respass also becomes WVU's first offensive player of the week since AJ Rodriguez earned the honor on Oct. 25, 2022.
 
Respass' brace marked the second for WVU this season, after Taylor White notched a pair of scores against Radford on Aug. 18. While it was Respass' first brace as a Mountaineer, it was the second of her college career after she posted her first two-goal performance as a freshman at Oregon in 2022. West Virginia has now featured a two-goal scorer 130 times in program history.
 
A native of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, Respass now leads the Mountaineer offense in goals (4), assists (3) and points (11). She ranks third in the Big 12 Conference in total assists and in game-winning goals (2).
 
WVU now looks ahead to its Big 12 Conference opener on Thursday, Sept.12, as it travels to Cincinnati, Ohio, to open league play against the Bearcats. Kickoff at Gettler Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
 
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