Long Beach State teammates Ashley Gonzales and Melanie Fox swept the women’s soccer weekly awards after leading the squad to a pair of impressive victories against SEC member Georgia and Denver.
Gonzales Dominates In Pair Of Wins
Freshman Ashley Gonzales (Ontario, Calif./Chino Hills HS) led the Long Beach State charge with two goals and an assist to earn Big West Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week accolades.
Gonzales scored both goals in a 3-2 win against SEC member Georgia on Friday. Her first goal was a one-touch shot to the lower left corner which tied the game at 1-1 (48:18). The forward later cemented the victory with the game-winner in the 84th minute (
WATCH), hitting a chip shot over a charging goalkeeper. She finished with a game-high four shots, including three on frame (earning a
#BigPerformer nod).
Against Denver, a program that has reached the NCAA Tournament in each of the past two years, Gonzales again dictated her opportunities. She took five shots in the contest, and nearly collected her second game-winning goal of the weekend, but an attempt ricocheted off the post and into the hands of the keeper. However, Gonzales recorded the assist on Mimi Rangel’s goal at 73:30, tying the match at 1-1.
Others nominated: Sienna Drizin (UC Davis); Celina Valencia (UC Riverside); Madison Beckley (UC Santa Barbara); Kama Pascua (Hawai‘i)
All-Around Effort Leads Fox To Defensive Award
Junior Melanie Fox (Valencia, Calif./West Ranch HS) was instrumental in Long Beach State’s victories over Georgia and Denver in earning Big West Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week honors.
One of only two 49er field players to play the entire 180 minutes last weekend, Fox started the sequence that led to LBSU’s first goal against Georgia as she earned her first career assist. She also tallied a shot in the 3-2 win, which represented the 200th in program history.
Fox anchored the defense in a 2-1 triumph over Denver, holding the Pioneers to just six shots and no corner kicks.
Others nominated: Taylor Jern (UC Davis); Alana Sooy (UC Irvine); Elizabeth Silas (UC Riverside)