DENVER - Seattle U's Natasha Howe and CSU Bakersfield's Jen Padilla have been named Western Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for the week of Oct. 24-30.
Howe, a senior from Mission Viejo, Calif. (Mission Viejo HS), recorded her first career hat trick in Seattle University's 3-1 win at Utah Valley on Friday night. Howe scored to tie the game in the 16th minute, and then tallied a pair of goals in a 2:09 span of the second half to secure the victory. This was the first hat trick by a Seattle U player since Oct. 7, 2012. With the win, SU finished the regular season 7-0-0 in WAC play, securing a fourth consecutive WAC regular season title.
Padilla, a sophomore from Elk Grove, Calif. (Franklin HS), set a school record with 13 saves in a 1-1 tie vs. Grand Canyon on Saturday night, allowing only a penalty kick goal. The tie was enough to earn the ‘Runners second place in the WAC standings, which gives them a bye in the first round of the WAC Women's Soccer Tournament. Padilla made seven saves in the first half of the match and added four in the overtime periods to thwart a GCU attack which outshot CSUB 23-5. On the year, Padilla also set CSUB records for wins (eight) and shutouts (four).
Other offensive nominees included: Grand Canyon sophomore forward McKenzie Cook had five shots vs. CSUB on Saturday … NM State forward Aileen Galicia scored the game-winning goal as the Aggies defeated UTRGV on Saturday to clinch the No. 5 seed in the WAC Tournament … Utah Valley freshman forward Breanna DeWaal had two shots, one on goal, in a loss to Seattle U on Friday.
Other defensive nominees included: Grand Canyon junior goalkeeper Blakely Fraasch allowed just one goal and made three saves in a 1-1 tie vs. CSUB … NM State freshman goalkeeper Raeann Garcia allowed no goals and made five saves in the second half of a win over UTRGV that clinched the No. 5 seed in the WAC Tournament for the Aggies … Seattle U junior defender Stephanie Spiekerman keyed the Redhawks' defense in a 3-1 win over Utah Valley … Utah Valley senior defender Kalli Suesue anchored the Wolverines' defense against Seattle U.