Mckenzie Grossman Named Pac-12 Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week

TEMPE, Ariz. – Sun Devil soccer sophomore defender Mckenzie Grossman was named the Pac-12 Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week, according to an announcement by the Conference office on Monday.

Grossman was recognized by the league for her performances in ASU’s Sun Devil Classic wins over Oklahoma State (2-0) and No. 6 Texas A&M (2-1).

Grossman, who was named to the Sun Devil Classic All-Tournament Team, started at center back in place in ASU’s top and most experienced defender McKenzie Berryhill, who missed both of ASU’s Sun Devil Classic games due to injury.

She came through with clutch outings, playing all 180 minutes in the two games.

On Friday, she helped ASU post its first shutout of the season in the Sun Devils’ 2-0 win over Oklahoma State.

On Sunday, Grossman played a key role in ASU’s 2-1 win over No. 6 Texas A&M as the Sun Devils gave up only one goal to a Texas A&M squad, which came in averaging 2.8 goals per game and had scored fewer than two goals only one time before Sunday.

Grossman, who was a part-time starter on ASU’s back line last season, started slowly this season due to injury. She missed ASU’s first game vs. Texas and averaged 58 minutes in ASU’s next three games before playing every minute of both games this weekend.

Grossman becomes the second Sun Devil to earn a Pac-12 Player of the Week award this season. Last month, freshman midfielder Aly Moon was named the Pac-12’s Offensive Player of the Week following her school-record-tying three-goal performance in ASU’s win at Hawaii (Aug. 24).

Sunday’s win over the No. 6 Aggies represented ASU’s second victory in as many seasons against a Top 10 team. Last season the Sun Devils stunned the nation when they upset then-second-ranked Stanford, 1-0. The win snapped Stanford’s 73-game unbeaten streak at home and its 44-game winning streak in conference matches.

Currently on a three-game winning streak, the Sun Devils (4-1-1) return to action this week when they travel to Tucson, Arizona, for the Cats Classic being hosted by the University of Arizona. The Sun Devils will open play on Friday when they take on New Mexico State at 4:30 p.m. before closing out the weekend on Sunday against Nevada at noon.