DENVER ? Hawai’i forward Ambree Ako and goalkeeper Kori Lu have been named the Western Athletic Conference Soccer Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for the week of Oct. 8-14. This is the first career WAC Player of the Week honor for each of these Rainbow Wahine student athletes.
Ako, a sophomore forward from Aiea, Hawaii (Aiea), led Hawai’i to a 2-0 start in WAC play, with wins over Nevada and Fresno State this weekend. She scored three goals and had one assist, both game-winning goals, moving her total to eight on the season. Ako registered a goal and an assist in the 3-0 shutout over Nevada, and also netted two first-half goals to help the Rainbow Wahine erase a 1-0 deficit and defeat Fresno State 2-1. With this win, Hawai’i has now won seven straight home matches, a new school record, and remains undefeated at home this season. Ako is first in the WAC in game-winning goals (4), second in goals (8) and third in total points (19).
Lu, a native of San Clemente, Calif. (Santa Margarita), earned her third solo shutout of the season in Friday’s 3-0 route of WAC pre-season favorite Nevada. With this shutout, Lu becomes the Rainbow Wahine career leader in shutouts with 10. She also tallied three saves, including a save off a Fresno State free kick, to help preserve the 2-1 win over the Bulldogs, snapping a four-match losing streak to Fresno State dating back to 2003.
Other offensive nominees included: Randi Baker of Boise State posted one goal and two assists to lead the Broncos to a perfect 2-0 start to open conference play ... Amanda Reyes of Fresno State headed in the game-winning goals off a corner kick in Friday’s victory ... Brooke Lanie of Louisiana Tech scored two goals in less than three minutes to cut a 4-0 Boise State lead in half, marking the first multi-goal game for a Tech player this season ... Jessica Scott of San Jose State notched one goal and one assist in the 2-1 win over Nevada, tallying her team-leading fifth goal of the season ... Lauren Hansen of Utah State scored two goals in the 4-0 route of Idaho on Friday, marking her fourth goal of the season.
Other defensive nominees included: Jen Burns of Boise State earned both victories in goal, helping lead the Broncos to a 2-1 win over Utah State, earning their first victory in Logan, Utah dating back to 1998 ... Kaity Revel of Fresno State earned her fifth shutout of the season in the 1-0 defeat of San Jose State ... Anna Sandman of Idaho recorded her fifth shutout of the season versus Louisiana Tech, giving her sole possession of the Idaho school record for shutouts ... Kristin Krale of San Jose State anchored the Spartan defense to a 1-1 record to open conference play ... Ali Griffin of Utah State recorded her fourth shutout as the Aggies defeated Idaho 4-0 in the WAC opener on Friday.
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