DENVER – Hawai‘i’s Ambree Ako and San Jose State’s Nina Butera have been named Verizon Wireless Western Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for the week of Oct. 19-25.
Ako, a senior forward from Aiea, O’ahu (‘Aiea HS), scored three of UH’s four goals in a pair of matches against Nevada and Utah State. Ako scored two goals, including the game winner in a 3-1 victory over Utah State. She also recorded UH’s lone goal in a 2-1 setback to Nevada. Ako is now tied for the team lead with seven goals this season.
Butera, a junior goalkeeper from San Jose, Calif. (Presentation HS), allowed one goal over 151:19 (0.60 GAA) with 14 saves on a total of 27 shots faced, as the first-place Spartans continued a school-record 13-match unbeaten run with a pair of wins last week. Butera matched her single-game career high with 12 stops during a 2-1 victory over Idaho. She also made two saves over 61:19 of shutout soccer in a 2-0 non-conference win at Cal State Bakersfield.
Other offensive nominees included: Boise State senior midfielder Kaylea Perenon; Fresno State freshman defender Bianca Lopez; Louisiana Tech junior defender Kiva Greshman; Nevada sophomore forward Natalie Ratnavira; and San Jose State senior forward Emmy Belding.
Other defensive nominees included: Boise State sophomore goalkeeper Liz Ruiz; Fresno State junior goalkeeper Kaitlyn Revel; Hawai‘i senior midfielder Kristyn Shapka; and Nevada junior goalkeeper Marie Cove.