Long Beach State junior Eileen Maes and UC Santa Barbara junior Paige Gankema delivered game-winning goals for their respective teams and were selected the Big West Women's Soccer Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week.
Maes Named All-Tournament With Three Goals In Two Games
Junior Eileen Maes (Oakland, Calif./Castro Valley HS) was the offensive star for Long Beach State as she scored three of the team's four goals in a performance that netted her Big West Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week.
The midfielder scored both 49er goals in a narrow 3-2 double-overtime loss to Texas Tech in the opener of the Under Armour Invitational hosted by Cal State Fullerton. Maes evened the score at 1-1 with a goal at the 19:07 mark and gave the 49ers the lead just over seven minutes later.
On Sunday, LBSU defeated Army by a 2-0 score. Maes scored the game-winning goal in the 69th minute as the 49ers improved to 6-3-0 on the season. The three goals gave her four for the season, tying her for the team lead.
She had a team-high four shots against the Red Raiders and tied for the team lead with three attempts versus Army. On the week, Maes led the 49ers with three goals, six points and seven shots.
Others nominated: Jordan Utvich (UC Irvine); Indiana Mead (UC Santa Barbara)
Gankema Helps UC Santa Barbara to 3-0 Week
Junior Paige Gankema provided a game-winning goal and anchored a stout defense in helping UC Santa Barbara post a 3-0 record, earning her Big West Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week plaudits.
After an 0-4-1 start, the Gauchos reeled off victories against Cal State Bakersfield, San Francisco and Weber State to improve to 3-4-1 on the year. Gankema helped UCSB dent the win column for the first time in 2012 with her first career goal in a 1-0 triumph at Cal State Bakersfield Monday. It was her only shot attempt of the match.
Gankema started and played an average of 85 minutes per match as UCSB limited its three opponents to just two goals and 12 shots on goal. She was key in the Gauchos' 3-1 win against the Dons and 2-1 victory versus the Wildcats.
Gankema took four shots on the week and three of those were on frame.
Others nominated: Marrina Meyers (Long Beach State)