OGDEN, Utah (August 25, 2015) - The Big Sky Conference has announced its women’s soccer players of the week for matches played from August 21 - August 23. Idaho’s Kayla Watanabe was named the first Offensive Player of the Week for the 2015 season and Eastern Washington’s Mallory Taylor picked up Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Taylor, a junior goalkeeper from Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, helped lead the Eagles to a 2-0 start to the 2015 season. In the Eagles’ 2-1 season-opening win over UTEP last Friday, Taylor pulled down six saves in 90 minutes of action. She followed that performance with seven saves in EWU’s 2-1 overtime win over New Mexico State on Sunday.
She is currently second in the conference with a 6.50 saves average.
Watanabe, a freshman from Honolulu, had a strong debut for the Vandals on Friday as she scored the third and final goal in the 76th minute as UI topped Indiana State 3-1 in Missoula, Mont. She led the Vandals with five shots, including three on goal.
Soccer action kicks off again on Thursday, August 27, as Northern Colorado hosts Pittsburgh in non-conference action.
Others Nominated:
Offense: Paige Robins - Southern Utah; Sydney Schroeder – Northern Colorado; Katie Moller – North Dakota; Maria Sanchez – Idaho State; Dani Morris – Montana; Tasha Luu – Eastern Washington
Defense: Brielle Bourgeois – Southern Utah; Madeline Chase – Northern Colorado; Kelly Dopke – Idaho; Olivia Swenson – North Dakota; Sheridan Hapsic – Idaho State