UC Riverside sophomore Blanca Barrio and UC Irvine junior Clarissa Robles racked up impressive individual statistics en route to Big West Women’s Soccer Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week accolades.

Barrio Contributes to Pair of Highlander Wins

Sophomore Blanca Barrio (San Bernardino, Calif./Citrus HS) played an instrumental role with six points in two UC Riverside victories, and earned the Big West Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week award.

The forward scored a goal and added an assist in each win over Northern Iowa (3-0) and CSU Bakersfield (4-0).  In the rain-lengthened win over UNI, she started the sequence that led to a goal in the seventh minute, and later added an insurance goal at the 77:07 mark.

Barrio set off a four-goal second half explosion against the Roadrunners, scoring just 26 seconds into the stanza.  She also assisted on the final goal for UCR.

Barrio now has a conference-leading five assists in six matches, and she needs just one more to tie the school’s single-season record held by Vanessa Chanez (2004) and Amber Plumlee (2004).  Blanco also is tied for second in the Big West with nine points, and she has helped the Highlanders to a league-high total of 17 goals.

Others nominated: Elise Krieghoff (Cal Poly); Kiana Palacios (UC Irvine); Sonest Furtado (Hawai‘i)

Robles Collects Second Straight Defensive Award For UC Irvine

Junior Clarissa Robles (Corona, Calif./Santiago HS) provided two-way contributions for UC Irvine in garnering Big West Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week honors.

She served up a couple of crosses into the box that were converted into scores as the Anteaters toppled San Diego, 2-1.  In a 1-1 draw against No. 14 USC, Robles again factored in the scoring, lofting a free kick that resulted in the 75th minute equalizer.

Robles also anchored the collective UCI defensive effort as the Toreros and Trojans were held to a combined two goals and five shots on goal.

Others nominated:  Alyssa Giannetti (Cal Poly); Morgan Batcheller (Cal State Fullerton); Amber Marani (UC Riverside); Kelly McGrath (UC Santa Barbara)