DENVER ? Hawai?i’s Taryn Fukuroku and Utah State’s Sydne Porter have been named Western Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for the week of Oct. 13-19.
Fukuroku, a senior forward from Wailuku, Maui (Maui HS), registered three points including her first game-winning goal of the season in overtime to beat San Jose State 2-1 on Sunday (Oct. 19). The senior assisted on the Rainbow Wahine’s first goal when she took a corner kick that found Chelsea Deptula’s head in the 47th minute to put Hawai?i up 1-0. After a SJSU goal in the 50th, the game went into overtime. Fukuroku wasted no time when she scored on a 20-yard strike just three minutes into the overtime period. It secured Hawai?i’s first conference win of the season. It marks the second time this season that Fukuroku has earned Player of the Week honors.
Porter, a junior defender from Highland, Utah (Lone Peak HS), was a part of a Utah State defense that secured its third shutout in conference play in a 1-0 win over Fresno State. She also recorded three points on the week to help the Aggies stay undefeated in WAC play. She played all 180 minutes during the week while connecting on a game-winning goal in a 4-3 win over Nevada. The junior also assisted on Lauren Hansen’s sixth goal of the season when USU took a 3-2 lead. It marks the first time in her career that she has garnered the Player of the Week award.
Other offensive nominees: Shantel Flanary of Utah State registered a goal in Utah State’s 4-3 win over Nevada to help the Aggies improve to 4-0 in conference play. Fresno State’s Nicole Gutierrez notched the game-winning in a 1-0 victory against Louisiana Tech. Rachel King of Louisiana Tech registered two goals for the Lady Techsters in a 2-2 tie at home against Nevada. Nevada’s Karen Zmirak recorded three points on a goal and an assist in a loss to Utah State becoming the Pack’s all-time leader in career points with 45.
Other defensive nominees: Fresno State’s Kaitlyn Revel has 10 saves in two games and recorded her seventh shutout of the season in a 1-0 win at Louisiana Tech. Louisiana Tech’s Amy Quintana registered an assist in the Lady Techsters 2-2 tie against Nevada.