Women's Soccer

UCSB Duo Howard and Sheffey Secure Weekly Awards While CP’s Porubski Claims Consecutive Honors

All-Time Big West Women's Soccer Weekly Winners >>>
Offensive Player of the Week 
Olivia Howard, UC Santa Barbara | Junior • Forward • Dallas, Texas 

  • 8134UC Santa Barbara’s Olivia Howard scored three times this weekend, twice in game-winning fashion, to be honored as The Big West Offensive Player of the Week. This is the second weekly distinction of Howard’s career after earning Freshman of the Week on Aug. 21, 2023.  

  • Howard delivered an 84th-minute penalty kick to lift UCSB to a 2-1 win over North Dakota, which entered the match ranked in the top 25 nationally in goals per game.  

  • From there, the junior opened the scoring in a 3-0 victory at North Dakota State, netting the first of three Gaucho goals on the afternoon to help the team go undefeated on the road trip. 

  • Howard is now tied for second-most goals in The Big West with three, aiding UCSB to a 5-1-1 record behind a four-match winning streak.

Also Nominated: Natalie Abel (UC San Diego), Radisson Banks (Long Beach State), Jordyn Canister (CSUN), Camryn Cruz (Cal State Fullerton), Jaiden Gore (Cal State Bakersfield), Jessie Halladay (Cal Poly), Tatum Porter (Hawai’i)
 
Defensive Player of the Week 
Shannon Porubski, Cal Poly | R-Freshman • Goalkeeper • Rocklin, Calif. 

  • 8038Cal Poly’s Shannon Porubski recorded a shutout, an assist, and allowed just one goal across two starts to claim The Big West Defensive Player of the Week. This is the second weekly distinction of Porubski’s career after earning Freshman of the Week last week (Sept. 1, 2025).

  • Porubski secured the freshman's second career clean sheet in a scoreless draw with Cal, making two saves while facing 12 shots in net.   

  • The Rocklin, Calif. native recorded three more saves in a 3-1 victory at San Jose State, while also recording freshman's first collegiate point with an assist in the 26th minute. 

  • Through three starts, Porubski holds a 2-0-1 record alongside a 0.33 goals against average and a .909 save percentage to help keep the Mustangs unbeaten (2-0-6).  

Also Nominated: Savanna Arruda (UC Irvine), Evelyn Arsenault (UC Santa Barbara), Mya Clarke (Cal State Bakersfield), Riley Liebsack (CSUN), Isaac Ranson (Cal State Fullerton), Aurora Schuck (Long Beach State) 
 
Freshman of the Week 
Natalie Sheffey, UC Santa Barbara | Freshman • Forward • Hermosa, Calif. 

  • 8134Big West Freshman of the Week Natalie Sheffey’s performance was one of a few firsts that helped UC Santa Barbara sweep its road trip. This is the first distinction of Sheffey's career.     

  • Sheffey set up the Gauchos’ second goal against North Dakota State, providing the assist in the 3-0 victory. The forward later found the back of the net in the 79th minute to secure the first collegiate goal of the freshman's career.

  • UCSB is now riding a four-match winning streak alongside a 5-1-1 record after winning its matches over North Dakota and North Dakota State this weekend.  

Also Nominated: Jaiden Gore (Cal State Bakersfield), Kayalily Penn (Cal State Fullerton), Shannon Porubski (Cal Poly), Fiona Shin (UC Irvine), Ameera White (Long Beach State), Alex Valente (CSUN)