Pac-12 Announces Women’s Soccer Players of the Week

SAN FRANCISCO - The Conference office announced today the Pac-12 Women's Soccer Players of the Week for action from Aug. 31-Sep. 6. CALIFORNIA’s Arielle Ship took home Offensive Player of the Week, while her teammate Sandra Ley was voted Defensive Player of the Week and WASHINGTON’s Megan Kufeld was tabbed Goalkeeper of the Week.

Ship (Westlake Village, Calif.) was named the Duke Nike Classic Offensive MVP after having a foot in all four goals that California had against No. 4 North Carolina and then-No. 18 Duke. The junior was dialed in for the Golden Bears, all six shots she took over the two games were on target. Ship's goal in the 15th minute led to a 1-1 tie against North Carolina which snapped the Tar Heels' 374-minute season-opening shutout streak. Against the Blue Devils, she scored the game-winning goal and assisted on two others. Duke had gone 481 minutes without allowing goal prior to Ship's strike. It is her first time earning Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week accolades. Ship was also named National Player of the Week by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and TopDrawerSoccer.

Ley (Cupertino, Calif.) played in all 200 minutes of action against North Carolina and Duke. She anchored the defense that allowed 10 shots on goal in those two matches. In the Golden Bears' first-ever victory over Duke, their defense was particularly stout, allowing only four shots on goal over 90 minutes. For her work, the senior was named to the Duke Nike Classic All-Tournament team. It is her first time claiming Pac-12 Defensive Player of the week honors. California has now garnered 31 all-time weekly honors, the third-most in Conference history.

Kufeld (Fremont, Calif.) directed Washington's defense to victories over Illinois and Michigan over the weekend. She surrendered a goal against Illinois in the 2-1 victory but recorded her 18th career shutout in the Huskies' 1-0 victory over Michigan. Kufeld faced 17 shots against the Wolverines and made eight saves to preserve her second shutout of the season. With the shutout, she is now tied with Hope Solo for the most shutouts in program history. This is the senior's third Pac-12 Player of the Week honor of her career. Washington now has 22 all-time weekly honors.

This week, No. 16 California will be on the Pac-12 Networks and Pac-12 Bay Area on Sep. 11 at 2 p.m. PT for its match against UC Riverside. They also host St. Mary's (Calif.) on Sunday. Washington will compete in the Nike Portland Invitational against CS Northridge and UC Irvine.

ALSO NOMINATED

Offensive: Gabi Stoian, ARIZ; Cali Lucy Lara, ASU; Brie Hooks, COLO; Abby Morrow, ORE; Allison Pantuso, OSU; Ryan Walker-Hartshorn, STAN; Taylor Smith, UCLA; Morgan Andrews, USC; Mariah Elmer, UTAH; Kelcie Hedge, WASH; Kailiana Johnson, WSU.

Defensive: Sheaffer Skadsen, ARIZ; Sara Tosti, ASU; Madison Krauser, COLO; Kelsey Foo, ORE; Greta Espinoza, OSU; Stephanie Amack, STAN; Kayla Mills, USC; Havana McElvaine, WASH.

Goalkeeper: Lainey Burdett, ARIZ; Emily Boyd, CAL; Kate Scheele. COLO; Halla Hinriksdottir, ORE; Bella Geist, OSU; Jane Campbell, STAN; Cassie Sternbach, UCLA; Ella Dederick, WSU.

2015 PAC-12 WOMEN'S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK