MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – After helping the Mountaineers earn their fourth straight shutout last week, redshirt junior defender Roxanne Vilain has been named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, as announced by the league on Wednesday.
 
The accolade marks the first Big 12 weekly honor of Vilain's career, while she earned WVU's second straight defensive player of the week nod after junior defender Nyema Ingleton was recognized with the award on Sept. 10. This marks West Virginia's first back-to-back defensive player of the week honors since 2023 (Julianne Vallerand on Oct. 11 and Mackenzie Aunkst on Oct. 18).
 
Additionally, the weekly award also marks the third honor for WVU this season.
 
 A native of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Vilain played all 90 minutes in a 2-0, shutout victory at Marshall on Sept. 11. Vilain and the WVU defense earned their fifth clean sheet of the year at Marshall, holding the Thundering Herd to zero shots on goal and just three total shots. The performance marked the third time this season WVU has denied an opponent a shot on goal, as well as the second time in as many matches.
 
Additionally, West Virginia wrapped up the nonconference slate with the defense allowing just four goals and 13 shots on goal through seven matches.
 
With four games this season playing 80 or more minutes, Vilain ranks third on the team with 558 minutes played so far this year.
 
Up next, West Virginia prepares to open Big 12 Conference play at UCF on Thursday, Sept. 18. Kickoff at the UCF Soccer and Track Complex in Orlando, Florida, is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
 
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