The UC Irvine senior tandem of Natalia Ledezma and Jordan Bruce helped author the biggest upset in school history as the team's 1-0 road victory over No. 6 BYU led to Big West Women's Soccer Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week honors for the pair.

Ledezma Strikes in 90th Minute

Natalia Ledezma (La Mirada, Calif./UCLA) quieted a pro-BYU crowd of 4,672 as she notched the game-winning goal with 31 seconds remaining in regulation for a 1-0 victory against the sixth-ranked Cougars, giving the UC Irvine senior claim to Big West Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week honors.

The Cougars, which had lost just once in their previous 18 home matches, appeared headed for overtime against the Anteaters when Zoya Farzaneh threaded a perfectly placed through ball to Ledezma.  The forward gathered the pass and delivered a strike to the left of charging Cougar keeper Erica Owens.  The goal was Ledezma's third of the year and her second game-winner.

UC Irvine defeated the highest-ranked opponent in program history, replacing No. 11 Texas A&M early in the 2011 season for that distinction.

Others nominated:  Amanda Smith (Cal State Northridge); Alexa Bustamante (UC Riverside); Tiana Fujimoto (Hawai‘i)

Bruce Spearheads Outstanding Defensive Effort Against Ranked Cougars

Jordan Bruce (San Diego, Calif./Westview HS) anchored a stingy UC Irvine defense which shackled a normally potent BYU offense, leading to a 1-0 upset victory and Big West Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week honors for the senior.

Bruce helped the Anteaters limit the Cougars to just eight shots in the match, well below their season average of 18.  Only three of those shots were on frame as goalkeeper Jenn Randazzo corralled all of them successfully.

The defender sparked UCI to its third consecutive road victory and helped hand BYU just its second home loss in the last two seasons.

Others nominated:  Lindsey Maricic (Cal State Fullerton); Cynthia Tafoya (Cal State Northridge) Elizabeth Silas (UC Riverside); Beth Ritter (UC Santa Barbara)