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. 29-Oct. 5. STANFORD’s Ryan Walker-Hartshorn was voted Offensive Player of the Week, while COLORADO’s Tori Cooper was tabbed the Defensive Player of the Week and UCLA’s Katelyn Rowland was named Goalkeeper of the Week. 

Ryan Walker-Hartshorn (Oakland, Calif.) recorded her second hat trick of the year, scoring three goals within a 27-minute span to lead Stanford to a 4-1 victory over Washington on Friday. The sophomore became the first Cardinal player since Kelley O’Hara in 2009 and the fourth overall to post two hat tricks in one season. Walker-Hartshorn, who also started in Stanford’s 1-0 win over previously unbeaten Washington State on Sunday, has a team-high eight goals this season. The honor is the first of Walker-Hartshorn’s career and the 44th for the Cardinal. 

Tori Cooper (Torrance, Calif.) led the defensive attack in two matches against ranked opponents, with a 1-0 upset victory over No. 23 USC and a 0-1 loss to No. 1 UCLA. Cooper and the Colorado defense limited the Trojans and the Bruins to a combined seven shots on goal. On Friday, the senior helped preserve the Buffs’ seventh shutout of the season, holding USC to four shots on goal. The forward followed with a stellar defensive effort on Sunday, keeping the Bruins to a season-low three shots on goal and holding UCLA scoreless until the 64th minute. It is the first weekly honor of Cooper’s career and the fourth for the Buffs since joining the Pac-12 in 2011. 

Katelyn Rowland (Vacaville, Calif.) earned her eighth and ninth shutouts of the season, making four saves in the 1-0 win over No. 19 UTAH and three saves in the 1-0 victory over Colorado. The senior improved her school-record career shutout total to 45, which is tied for third most in NCAA history. Her seven saves this weekend moved her into third place on UCLA’s career saves list with 178. It marks Rowland’s third-career weekly award and the 42nd overall for the Bruins. 

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: Gabi Stoian, ARIZ; Aly Moon, ASU; Madison Krauser, COLO; Bri Pugh, ORE; Nikki Faris, OSU; Sam Mewis, UCLA; Alex Quincey, USC; Jaclyn Softli, WASH. 

Defensive: Sheaffer Skadsen, ARIZ; McKenzie Berryhill, ASU; Kelsey Foo, ORE; Annie Govig, OSU; Laura Liedle, STAN; Megan Oyster, UCLA; Dominique Randle, USC. 

Goalkeeper: Gabby Kaufman, ARIZ; Chandler Morris, ASU; Kate Scheele, COLO; Abby Steele, ORE; Bella Geist, OSU; Jane Campbell, STAN.

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