Pac-12 announces women's soccer players of the week

SAN FRANCISCO - The Pac-12 Conference announced today the Women’s Soccer Players of the Week for the week of Sept. 1-7. ARIZONA’s Gabi Stoian took home Offensive Player of the Week honors, while ARIZONA STATE’s McKenzie Grossman was tabbed the Defensive Player of the Week and UCLA’s Katelyn Rowland was voted Goalkeeper of the Week.  

Gabi Stoian (Scottsdale, Ariz.) contributed to all five goals the Wildcats had this weekend, scoring three and assisting on the other two as Arizona defeated Oklahoma State and tied No. 6 Texas A&M. Against the Aggies, the freshman gave Arizona the lead in the 37th minute with a shot from the left side of the box that found the far right corner of the goal, then assisted on Hayley Estopare’s goal that led to the 2-2 final. On Sunday, with the Wildcats down 1-0 and only seven minutes remaining, Stoian assisted Lexe Selmen on a goal that tied the game before scoring two on her own to give Arizona the 3-1 victory over OSU. Her nine points on the season so far are tied for the second-best total in the Pac-12. It marks Arizona’s 14th weekly nomination and the first for Stoian. 

Mckenzie Grossman (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) played a vital role in Arizona State’s two victories over Oklahoma State and No. 6 Texas A&M, and was named to the Sun Devil Classic All-Tournament Team after starting at center back and playing all 180 minutes. The sophomore helped the Devils post their first shutout of the season in Friday’s 2-0 win over the Cowgirls. Then in ASU’s 2-1 upset over the Aggies, Grossman helped the Sun Devil defense give up only one goal to an Aggie squad that came in averaging 2.8 goals per game. The honor is the first of Grossman’s career and the 19th for Arizona State. 

Katelyn Rowland (Vacaville, Calif.) shut out her fifth- and sixth-straight opponents of the year to increase her school- and Conference-record shutout total to 42 in her career. The senior faced a season-high five shots in a 6-0 win over Hawai’i and made the save on the lone shot-on-goal attempt. In the 2-0 win over 13th-ranked Pepperdine, Rowland made two saves in the first five minutes of the game to keep her shutout streak going. Dating back to last season, Rowland has allowed just one goal in the last 12 games and has posted seven-consecutive shutouts and 694 minutes of scoreless soccer. Rowland was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Outrigger Resorts Soccer Classic this weekend. The honor gives Rowland the second of her career and is UCLA’s 41st overall. 

This week, Arizona faces off against Nevada on Friday, Sept. 12. Arizona State plays New Mexico State the same day, then plays Nevada on Sunday, Sept. 14. UCLA hosts Wake Forest on Friday, Sept. 12 at 5:30 p.m. PT in a game to be televised live on Pac-12 Networks. For more information, including a complete schedule, visit www.pac-12.com. 

ALSO NOMINATED
Offensive: Aly Moon, ASU; Taylor Comeau, CAL; Brie Hooks, COLO; Lilly Archer, ORE; Maddi Misi, OSU; Chioma Ubogagu, STAN; Sarah Killion, UCLA; Jamie Fink, USC; Jaclyn Softli, WASH; Beau Bremer, WSU. 
Defensive: Sheaffer Skadsen, ARIZ; Reilley Moore, ORE; Helene Haavik, OSU; Kendall Romine, STAN; Ally Courtnall, UCLA; Havana McElvaine, WASH; Nicole Setterlund, WSU. 
Goalkeeper: Gabby Kaufman, ARIZ; Bella Geist, OSU; Jane Campbell, STAN; Megan Kufeld, WASH; Gurveen Clair, WSU.

2014 PAC-12 WOMEN'S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK