DENVER - Grand Canyon's Milla Benedetti and Blakely Fraasch have been named Western Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for the week of Aug. 29-Sept. 4.
Benedetti, a junior from Vancouver, Wash. (Mountain View HS), scored two goals in two games, helping GCU go undefeated on the weekend. Benedetti scored the game-winning goal in the 75th minute of in the Lopes' 1-0 victory over Northern Colorado on Sunday. She fired eight shots in the contest, including three on goal. She was one of five goal scorers in Friday's 5-0 victory over in-state foe Northern Arizona, tallying the third goal of the match for the Lopes. For the week, Benedetti fired off 14 shots with six finding the target.
Fraasch, a junior from Prior Lake, Minn. (Prior Lake HS), backstopped a GCU defense that posted two shutouts on the weekend. In a dominant 5-0 victory over NAU, Fraasch made two stops to thwart the NAU attack in the first half. Two days later, she made a key second half save to preserve a 1-0 victory over Northern Colorado. The wins were the first two on the year for the Lopes.
Other offensive nominees included: Chicago State freshman midfielder Mariela Alba scored her third goal of the season to equalize for the Cougars in an overtime loss to Eastern Illinois … NM State sophomore midfielder/forward Aileen Galicia scored two goals in two games, including the game-winner in overtime as the Aggies picked up their first victory of the year … Seattle U senior forward Brie Hooks scored her third goal of the season to help SU earn a draw with Portland … Utah Valley senior defender Abby Jameson scored the game-winning goal in Utah Valley's 2-1 victory over previously unbeaten UNLV.
Other defensive nominees included: Seattle U freshman goalkeeper Ashley Routh made two saves as the Redhawks tied Portland 1-1 … UTRGV sophomore defender Tuva Rolstad Nilsen anchored a defense that allowed just one shot on goal in a 0-0 tie with UIW … Utah Valley freshman goalkeeper Brooklyn Nielsen gave up just one goal and made eight saves as the Wolverines defeated previously unbeaten UNLV.