FARMINGTON, Utah (Sept. 19, 2023) – With non-conference play wrapped up, the Big Sky Conference office has announced its Offensive and Defensive Soccer Players of the Week for Week Four.
Offensive Player of the Week: Raniyah Burton, Portland State
Raniyah Burton led the Vikings to a pair of road victories against UC Riverside and CSUN, leading to her becoming Offensive Player of the Week.
She tallied seven points, scoring three goals and recording one assist. She notched her first career brace against the Highlanders on Friday, including the game-winning goal in the 83rd minute and another in the 85th. She scored two goals in only 1:39 seconds, the second-fastest consecutive goals scored (by an individual) in program history.
Burton finished the weekend with an assist and a goal against CSUN, netting a go-ahead goal in the 58th minute to give the Vikings a 2-1 lead.
Others Nominated: Skyleigh Thompson (UM), Kaylyn Buchanan (ISU), Grace Kirby (WSU), Kylie Hummel (UI), Allison Veloz (NAU)
Defensive Player of the Week: Ashlyn Dvorak, Montana
For the second time this season, Griz goalie Ashlyn Dvorak has been named Defensive Player of the Week by the league office.
Dvorak shut out Miami (Ohio) and Oregon State as Montana went 1-0-1 on the week, with a 4-0 home win over the RedHawks and a 0-0 road draw against the Beavers.
She faced 28 shots in the two matches, made eight saves and collected her first career assist against Miami (Ohio).
Others Nominated: Callie Kitagawa-Mullen (ISU), Hadley Harris (WSU), Kira Witte (UI), Natalie Manzo (NAU)
Previous Winners
Week Four, September 12
Offensive: Maddie Morgan, Eastern Washington
Defensive: Kelsey Jargstorf, Idaho State & Joey Lujan, Northern Arizona
Week Three – September 5, 2023
Offensive: Maddie Morgan, Eastern Washington
Defensive: Ashlyn Dvorak, Montana
Week Two – August 29, 2023
Offensive: Maysa Walters, Montana
Defensive: Kira Witte, Idaho
Week One – August 22, 2023
Offensive: Delaney Lou Schorr, Montana & Maddie Shafer, Northern Arizona
Defensive: Molly Quarry, Montana
2023 Championship Information
The 2023 Big Sky Soccer Championships will be hosted on Nov. 1, 3, and 5 on the campus of the Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Ariz. The top six teams in the conference regular season standings advance to the championship.
The winner of the championship receives the Big Sky’s automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
Flagstaff will serve as the host city for the first time since 2010 when the Lumberjacks won the regular season championship. The host institution hasn’t won the postseason tournament since 2019 when Northern Colorado won on their home grass.
All matches from Flagstaff will stream live on ESPN+
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