Offensive Player of the Week  Daphane Mendez, UC Riverside | Junior • Forward • Murrieta, Calif.

• UC Riverside junior forward Daphane Mendez tallied five points this week to claim Big West Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week honors. In total, Mendez produced one goal and three assists to cap off the impressive performance on the week. This is Mendez's first career weekly distinction.  

• Mendez notched an assist on the Highlander's lone goal against Portland State during the squads 1-3 setback. The Murrieta product has now assisted on three of UC Riverside's six goals on the year and has goal involvement in three of the teams last four matches after a goal versus San Francisco and an assist against Nevada.

• In the Big West conference opener against Cal State Fullerton, the junior forward contributed on all three UC Riverside scores. Mendez dished out feeds on the first and final Highlander goals but found the back of the net on her own during the 35th mintue on the teams second score. Mendez became the first UC Riverside player since 2019 with multiple assists in a Big West match and also guided UC Riverside to its first three-goal performance in a Big West match since 2018's conference opener against the Titans.

DAPHANE ARE YOU FOR REAL?!

THREE STRAIGHT MATCHES WITH A GOAL INVOLVEMENT AND IT’S 2-0 AT THE BREAK. ??#GoHighlanders pic.twitter.com/sH0hXiCd1V

— UC Riverside Women's Soccer (@UCR_Wsoccer) September 18, 2023

Also Nominated: Leslie Fegoso (UC Davis), Alyssa Moore (UC Irvine), Julia Moore (Long Beach State), Kate Reedy (Cal Poly), Nohara Takayama (Hawai'i),  
 

Defensive Player of the Week  Mackenzie Samuel, Cal Poly | Junior • Goalkeeper • San Diego, Calif.

• Cal Poly junior goalkeeper Mackenzie Samuel stopped four shots and played all 180 minutes of action on the week en route to earning the second Big West Defensive Player of the Week honor of the season. This is Samuel's fourth Player of the Week honor (Oct. 4, 2021 | Oct. 17, 2022 | Aug. 28, 2023).

• During the pair of 3-1 Mustang triumphs, Samuel allowed just two goals in two matches after facing 22 shots on the week. During the 24th minute of Cal Poly's conference opener versus UC Santa Barbara, Samuel stepped in front of a scorching shot from the Guacho's leading scorer, Lauren Helwig, that prevented the opposition from getting on the board first.  

  24' | Fantastic kick save by Mac to keep the match scoreless!! #RideHigh???? pic.twitter.com/o3YEfj7ssB

  — Cal Poly Women's Soccer (@CPWomensSoccer) September 15, 2023

• The junior goaltender places fourth in the league in GAA (1.50) and has now moved up to 10th all-time in Cal Poly program history in career saves with a total of 113. 

Also Nominated: Sophie Augustin (Hawai'i), Maddie Buckley (UC Santa Barbara), Maddy Perez (Long Beach State) 
 

Freshman of the Week  Annika Smith, Cal Poly | Freshman • Forward • Scottsdale, Ariz.

• Cal Poly freshman forward Annika Smith recorded three points this week to claim Freshman of the Week accolades. This is the first Big West weekly honor of Smith's career. 

• Smith sent an assist during the Mustang's third and final goal against UC Santa Barbara to clinch Cal Poly's first conference win of the 2023 campagin.   

• The freshman forward converted on the first goal of her collegiate career during the 63rd minute of Cal Poly's 3-1 win over Pacific. Overall, the Scottsdale native has logged 370 minutes of action on the pitch across her six starts for the Mustangs. 

  Freshman Annika Smith buries her first collegiate goal!! 3-0 Mustangs?? #RideHigh???? pic.twitter.com/NEvfitAA12

  — Cal Poly Women's Soccer (@CPWomensSoccer) September 17, 2023

  
  Also Nominated: Brooklyn Antonucci (Long Beach State), Izzy Ayala (Hawai'i), Maddie Buckley (UC Santa Barbara), Alexis Nguyen (UC Davis), Elise Picard (UC Davis)

   

2023 Big West Women's Soccer Weekly Winners