FARMINGTON, Utah (Sept. 26, 2023) – Following the first weekend slate of league play, the Big Sky Conference office has announced its weekly Offensive and Defensive Soccer Player of the Week awards.
Offensive Player of the Week: Abigail Lopez, Sacramento State
Earning her team a weekly award for the first time this season, Sacramento State’s Abigail Lopez has been named Offensive Player of the Week.
She accounted for two of the Hornets' most important goals of the week: scoring the game-winner on a PK in the second half as Sacramento State upset defending champs Northern Arizona, 1-0, then added the game-tying goal with less than a minute to play in a 2-2 draw at Northern Colorado two days later.
Aside from them being her third and fourth goals overall this season, Sunday's goal was the 11th of Lopez's career, moving her to within two of breaking into the school's all-time top-10 list.
Her four goals this season matches her single-season career high set as a freshman when she finished with four goals and two assists in 2021.
Lopez finished with a match- and career-high seven shots at UNC — the most in a contest by a Hornet since Kylee Kim-Bustillos had the same number against California Baptist in Sept. 9, 2019.
She added three more shot attempts against NAU.
Others Nominated: Maddie Morgan (EWU), Kaylyn Buchanan (ISU), Hannah Alfaro (UI)
Defensive Player of the Week: Alyssa Peters, Idaho
After helping the Vandal defense allow just one goal the entire weekend, Idaho’s Alyssa Peters has been named Defensive Player of the Week.
They played Weber State to a 1-1 draw on Wednesday before holding the Bengals scoreless in a 4-0 victory over Idaho State. The Vandals have just allowed eight goals this entire season.
Peters has been lethal from the corner, assisting on two goals this weekend as well. The first goal was the equalizer against Weber State and the second was the game-winner against Idaho State.
Peters has recorded at least one assist in five of the last six games and leads the conference with seven on the season. She ranks sixth in the NCAA with seven assists and ninth with 0.70 assists per game.
Others Nominated: Kelsey Jargstorf (ISU), Erika Tilford (SAC)
Previous Winners
Week Five – September 19
Offensive: Raniyah Burton, Portland State
Defensive: Ashlyn Dvorak, Montana
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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