UC Santa Barbara sophomore Erica Shelton and UC Irvine senior CoCo Goodson made crucial contributions to overall team success, leading to their selections as the Big West Women's Soccer Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week.
Shelton's Two Goals Weigh Heavily For UC Santa Barbara
Erica Shelton (Bakersfield, Calif./Stockdale HS) scored two vitally important goals for UC Santa Barbara to capture Big West Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week accolades.
The sophomore converted a penalty kick at the 53:58 mark to account for the game’s only score in a 1-0 victory at San Diego State on Wednesday.
Shelton struck again in Sunday’s 1-1 tie at Cal State Bakersfield. She blasted a free kick into the top left corner in the 77th minute to erase the Gauchos’ 1-0 deficit.
The goals were the first and second of the season for Shelton.
Others nominated: Ann Marie Tangorra (Cal State Fullerton); Melissa Fernandez (Cal State Northridge); Nadia Link (Long Beach State); Allison Kelly (UC Davis); Lexi Kopf (UC Irvine); Angelica Figueroa (Pacific)
Goodson Dominant at Both Ends of the Field
CoCo Goodson (Ramona, Calif./Texas) helped UC Irvine lock down a top 25 opponent and recorded the game-winning assist against another foe to secure Big West Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Goodson was the centerpiece of an Anteater defense that limited No. 25 Portland to just one goal, on a penalty kick, in a 3-1 victory on Thursday. The senior, who committed the foul that led to the PK, redeemed herself just minutes later with a perfectly placed shot into the top corner for an insurance goal.
In Sunday’s 3-2 triumph at San Diego, the Anteaters dispatched their second consecutive West Coast Conference opponent. Goodson recorded the game-winning assist on a lead pass to Cami Privett at the 64:09 mark.
Others nominated: Lindsey Maricic (Cal State Fullerton); Katie Russ (Cal State Northridge); Kaitlyn Gustaves (Long Beach State); Maria Magana (UC Davis), Nicole Romanowski (UC Santa Barbara); Tashia Long (Pacific)