UC Irvine sophomore Natalia Ledezma and UC Riverside senior Kayde Hensley both earned All-Tournament honors, and were recipients of the Big West Women's Soccer Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week awards.

Ledezma Scores Twice In Pair Of Wins

UC Irvine sophomore Natalia Ledezma (La Mirada, Calif./La Mirada HS) captured the Big West Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week award after scoring a goal in each of the Anteaters’ two wins at the UC Riverside Invitational.

Ledezma scored UCI’s first goal in the 52nd minute of an eventual 2-1 overtime triumph against San Jose State on Friday.  She peppered the Spartan defense with six shots, three of which were on goal, and made a magnificent move around the SJSU goalkeeper in a 1v1 opportunity to put her team on the board.

In Sunday’s 2-0 win against Mississippi State, Ledezma struck for her Big West leading third goal of the season.  Her strike in the 53rd minute gave the Anteaters a 1-0 lead and proved to be the game-winner.  For her efforts, Ledezma was named to the UC Riverside Invitational All-Tournament Team.

Other nominations: Nadia Link (Long Beach State); Ashley Edwards (UC Davis); Lindsey Ahmed (UC Riverside)

Hensley's 35-Yard Boot Sends UC Riverside To Title Of Own Invitational

UC Riverside senior Kayde Hensley (Fallbrook, Calif./Fallbrook HS) helped her team to a shutout of Mississippi State and recorded the game-winning goal against San Jose State to earn Big West Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week kudos.

The defender was a stalwart in UCR’s 3-0 win against Mississippi State on Friday.  After the Highlanders gave up a game-tying goal late in regulation of Sunday’s contest versus San Jose State, Hensley booted a goal from 35 yards out to secure a 2-1 overtime victory.  She was selected to the UC Riverside Invitational All-Tournament Team.

Other nominations: Judy Christopher (UC Irvine)