Cal Poly sophomore Elise Krieghoff continued her scoring dominance and Cal State Fullerton sophomore Morgan Batcheller anchored a stout defense as the two garnered Big West Women's Soccer Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week honors, respectively.
Nation's Goals Leader Continues Offensive Onslaught
Cal Poly forward Elise Krieghoff (Clovis, Calif./Buchanan HS) upped her season goal output to seven with a pair of strikes against Sacramento State, claiming her second consecutive Big West Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week honor.
Krieghoff is the nation's leader in goals with seven – ahead of Maryland's Hayley Brock and Florida's Savannah Jordan – who each have six.
The two goals against Sacramento State helped the Mustangs to a 4-0 victory. Cal Poly also won its third consecutive match, giving the program its first 3-0 start since 2005.
Krieghoff applied constant pressure on the Hornet defense as she registered 15 shots, including 11 on frame. The 15 shot attempts broke her own previous career-best of 13 which she set on Oct. 19, 2012 against UC Riverside. The 15 shots are also the most by a Big West player going back to the 2004 season.
The sophomore has now accounted for seven of Cal Poly's 12 goals for the season. She leads the Big West in goals, points (15) and shots (35).
Others nominated: Erica Mazeau (Cal State Fullerton); Mimi Rangel (Long Beach State); Ashley Edwards (UC Davis); Cami Privett (UC Irvine)
Batcheller Helps Fullerton Defense Stymie Opponents
Cal State Fullerton sophomore Morgan Batcheller (Carlsbad, Calif./Carlsbad HS) anchored a stingy defense that posted a pair of shutouts over visiting Utah and Montana, earning her Big West Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week accolades.
Batcheller was tasked with marking Utah's leading scorer, Baylee Nielson, and did an outstanding job in limiting her to just two shots. The Titans withstood an 11-shot effort from the Pac-12's Utes in forging a scoreless draw.
Two days later in the midday heat and humidity against Montana, Batcheller spearheaded a defense that held the Grizzlies to a season-low four shots (two in each half) in a 2-0 win. The Titans extended their shutout streak to 212:01 and compiled their third straight shutout.
The four shots allowed were the fewest for a Fullerton opponent since Creighton amassed the same number on Sept. 9, 2012.
Others nominated: Alyssa Giannetti (Cal Poly); Alana Sooy (UC Irvine)