Cal State Northridge senior Melissa Fernandez and UC Riverside senior Jessica White starred for their respective teams and were rewarded as the Big West Women's Soccer Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week.

Fernandez Caps Off Home Career With Game-Winning Strikes

Cal State Northridge senior Melissa Fernandez enjoyed a home send-off as a pair of game-winning goals earned her Big West Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week honors.

In her final collegiate matches at Matador Soccer Field, Fernandez tallied the game-winning goals in CSUN victories over Pacific (6-1) and UC Davis (1-0).  All five of her shots were on frame this week as she posted her first two game-winning goals of 2012.

The midfielder scored twice in the 6-1 win against the Tigers.  She struck first in the 16th minute on a give-and-go with Brittanie Sakajian, curling a left-footed shot inside the far post for her fourth goal of the season.

Fernandez booted in her second goal of the match – and fifth of the season – just over four minutes later.  The beneficiary of a turnover after kickoff, she sprinted down the wing and buried a shot off a Tiger defender into the net.

In Sunday's Senior Day win over the Aggies, Fernandez accounted for the only goal of the match to give her three for the weekend.

She leads the Matadors with six goals, five assists and 17 points this season.  Five of her six goals have occurred during Big West play.

Others nominated: Stacey Fox (Cal State Fullerton); Tiana Fujimoto (Hawai'i)

Stalwart White Helps Highlanders Pick Up Points

Thanks to an impressive performance between the pipes from Jessica White, UC Riverside dented the points column in the conference standings and the senior garnered Big West Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week accolades.

Held without a point through the first five league contests, UC Riverside picked up a tie and a win against Central Coast foes Cal Poly and UC Santa Barbara.

White was at the forefront of both results.  She faced 27 shots against Big West-leading Cal Poly, and made 13 saves.  The netminder allowed just one goal in the 1-1 double overtime draw.  The 13 saves rated as the second-most in the history of the program.

Going into the match, the Mustangs had scored 13 goals in their previous four Big West contests.

White then recorded a 1-0 shutout against UC Santa Barbara.  She stopped four shots, none more important than the one with 11:36 to go.  The Highlanders, which had been whistled for a foul in their box, saw the Gauchos awarded a penalty kick.  White thwarted the PK, one of 13 attempts from UCSB as the Highlanders captured their first Big West victory of 2012.

Others nominated: Cynthia Jacobo (Cal State Northridge); Rachel Wood (UC Irvine)