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 Oct. 27-Nov. 2. USC’s Katie Johnson was voted Offensive Player of the Week, while COLORADO’s Bianca Jones was tabbed the Defensive Player of the Week and USC’s Caroline Stanley was named Goalkeeper of the Week. 

Katie Johnson (Monrovia, Calif.) was the offensive power behind USC’s two upset victories over No. 17 Washington and No. 22 Washington State. The junior began the week with a goal against Washington to give the Trojans a 1-0 lead in a game that USC eventually won, 2-1. Johnson then netted the dramatic goal in the final minute of regulation against Washington State, running onto a pass from teammate Jamie Fink and giving USC the 1-0 victory. The forward has scored six goals so far on the season, including two game winners as the Trojans are currently riding a four-game winning streak. 

Bianca Jones (Aurora, Colo.) played all 180 minutes over the weekend, anchoring the Colorado defense that only allowed a combined 21 shots in both games. The Buffs defeated Arizona State, 2-0, while holding the Sun Devil offense to 12 shots compared to ASU’s 14.9 shots per game season average entering the contest. CU then held off Arizona to win, 3-1, limiting the Wildcats to nine shots on goal, eight shots short of its 17.6 season average. Jones helped Colorado record its 10th shutout of the year, marking the first time the team has reached such a feat since 2007. 

Caroline Stanley (Kansas City, Mo.) made eight saves in two victories for the Trojans over No. 17 Washington and No. 22 Washington State. The senior goalkeeper was between the pipes all 180 minutes for USC, only giving up one goal. In the 2-1 win over Washington, Stanley recorded three saves on wet field conditions. She then went on to make five saves in a 1-0 win over Washington State where the Cougars had nine corner kick opportunities, but Stanley held her line and came up with her seventh shutout of the year. 

Johnson’s honor is the first of her career while Stanley’s is her second, giving USC 29 weekly honors all-time. Jones takes home her first-career weekly nod and the fifth overall for Colorado since joining the Pac-12 in 2011. 

Both teams wrap up the regular season this week with rivalry games on Friday, Nov. 7. Colorado hosts Utah at 12 p.m. MT, while USC hosts UCLA at 7:30 p.m. PT, with both games being televised on Pac-12 Networks. For more information, including a complete schedule, visit www.pac-12.com.

ALSO NOMINATED
Offensive: Gabi Stoian, ARIZ; Cali Farquharson, ASU; Kory Lamet, CAL; Brie Hooks, COLO; Lo’eau LaBonta, STAN; Taylor Smith, UCLA; Chelsea Archer, WASH. 
Defensive: Thelma Einarsdottir, CAL; Caitlyn Wong, ORE; Kendall Romine, STAN; Caprice Dydasco, UCLA; Dominique Randle, USC. 
Goalkeeper: Kate Scheele, COLO; Abby Steele, ORE; Katelyn Rowland, UCLA

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