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. 22-28. ARIZONA STATE’s Cali Farquharson was voted Offensive Player of the Week, while fellow Sun Devil Brianna Gonzalez was tabbed the Defensive Player of the Week and UTAH’s Lindsey Luke was named Goalkeeper of the Week for a Conference-record fifth-career weekly honor. 

Cali Farquharson (Phoenix, Ariz.) scored the lone goal in Arizona State’s 1-1 tie against then-No. 1 UCLA on Friday. The junior forward put ASU up 1-0 in the 49th minute when she went on a breakaway and scored, making her only the seventh player to score a goal against the Bruins in UCLA’s last 26 games. She leads the Conference in total goals (9), goals per game (1.0) and points per game (2.22). The honor is the second of Farquharson’s career, with her first coming earlier this season on Sept. 15, and the 21st overall for Arizona State. 

Brianna Gonzalez (Victorville, Calif.) anchored a Sun Devil defense that kept the top-ranked Bruins scoreless for over 66 minutes in the eventual 1-1 tie. The senior midfielder was one of four ASU players on the field for all 110 minutes, making key defensive stops both in the midfield and near ASU’s own goal. It is Gonzalez’s first-career weekly honor and the 22nd for the Sun Devils. 

Lindsey Luke (Corona Del Mar, Calif.) set a Pac-12 record with the fifth weekly award of her career, taking home the accolade for the second-consecutive week. The junior made six saves as the Utes drew with No. 4 Stanford, 1-1. Luke, who has played every minute for Utah this season, is currently second in the league with 40 saves and third with six shutouts. She also ranks third in the league in save percentage (.909) and fourth in goals-against average (0.37). 

Arizona State remains at home while Utah hits the road for the second week of Conference play. The Sun Devils host OREGON on Friday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. PT, then OREGON STATE on Sunday, Oct. 5 at 1 p.m. PT. The Utes will travel to California and play at UCLA on Friday, Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. PT, then at USC on Sunday, Oct. 5 at 3 p.m. PT, with both matches televised live on Pac-12 Networks.  For more information, including a complete schedule, visit www.pac-12.com. 

ALSO NOMINATED

Offensive: Kelly Fitzgerald, CAL; Kira Wagoner, ORE; Nikki Faris, OSU; Sydney Sladek, USC; Rosie White, UCLA; Mariah Elmer, UTAH; Kate Bennett, WASH; Kourtney Guetlein, WSU. 

Defensive: Riley Smith, ORE; Helene Haavik, OSU; Abby Dahlkemper, UCLA; Katie Rigby, UTAH; Nicole Setterlund, WSU. 

Goalkeeper: Emily Boyd, CAL; Abby Steele, ORE; Bella Geist, OSU; Katelyn Rowland, UCLA; Caroline Stanley, USC; Gurveen Clair, WSU.

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