No. 1 UCLA tops Pac-12 women's soccer

• The battle for the top spot in the Pac-12 Conference continues this week as three teams remain unbeaten entering the third week of league play.  

• No. 1 UCLA (10-0-1, 3-0-0) and No. 2 STANFORD (10-1-0, 3-0-0) sit atop the Pac-12 table and claim the top two spots in the United Soccer Coaches Poll for the fifth consecutive week. The Bruins remain one of only three teams in the NCAA Division I without a loss this season (Texas, Milwaukee).  

• USC (8-1-1, 2-0-1) moved up one spot in the national rankings to No. 6 after defeating OREGON STATE, 4-0, and edging OREGON, 2-1. CALIFORNIA (5-2-1, 1-1-1) had its seven-match unbeaten streak snapped by ARIZONA, 1-0, and dropped nine spots to No. 20.

• This week kicks off with Pac-12 Networks’ Thursday Goals as Arizona hosts No. 6 USC at 7 p.m. on Pac-12 Network. The Wildcats (5-3-2, 2-1-0) then square off against No. 1 UCLA on Sunday for their fourth straight contest against a ranked team. Arizona’s upset of then No. 11 California vaulted it to fourth in the Pac-12 standings.

• A team to watch this week is WASHINGTON STATE, which visits Oregon on Thursday on Pac-12 Washington and then Oregon State on Sunday. The Cougars defeated then No. 24 UTAH for their second victory over a ranked opponent this season and joined the Wildcats, Utes and Washington Huskies in receiving votes in this week’s national poll.

• Stanford continues to boast the No. 1 scoring offense in the country with 4.36 goals per game in addition to leading in seven other statistical categories. The Cardinal also has the most total points (137), goals (48) and assists (41). No. 1 UCLA is featured on the top five of six national categories including a tie for second in assists (38), fourth in scoring offense (2.82) and fifth in total points (100).

• UCLA’s Ashley Sanchez is among the top distributors in the country as she ranks tied for third in assists per game (0.70) and tied for seventh in total assists (7). Stanford’s Catarina Macario is sixth in the nation with 2.18 points per game.

• UCLA’s Hailie Mace claimed her second Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week award of the 2017 season and her fourth all-time career honor. Mace recorded seven points last week, scoring three goals and adding an assist in the Bruins’ wins over Oregon, 2-0, and Oregon State, 4-1. USC’s Erika Okuma earned her first Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honor and Arizona’s Lainey Burdett picked up her second career Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week nod.

• After helping UCLA shut out Oregon on Friday, defender Gabrielle Matulich scored a goal and added an assist in Sunday’s 4-1 win over Oregon State to earn a spot on TopDrawerSoccer’s Best IX weekly team. Stanford midfielder Jordan Dibiasi contributed to the very successful Cardinal attack and earned TopDrawerSoccer’s weekly honorable mention.

• Three Pac-12 student-athletes appear on the 2017 Senior CLASS Award candidate list: Andi Sullivan, Stanford; Zoey Goralski, UCLA; and Alex Anthony, USC. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, honors the attributes of NCAA Division I senior student-athletes in four areas: community, classroom, character and competition. The candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season to determine an official ballot and the winner will be announced during the College Cup in December.

• The Pac-12 has the most representatives on the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List with seven student-athletes, the most from the Conference since seven in 2010. The MAC Hermann Trophy is the most prestigious individual award in college soccer, presented annually to one male and one female athlete. The Conference is represented by Jemma Purfield, Arizona State; Taylor Kornieck, COLORADO; Andi Sullivan and Tierna Davidson, Stanford; Jessie Fleming, UCLA; Ally Prisock, USC; and Hailey Skolmoski, Utah

• On TopDrawerSoccer 2017 Preseason Women’s DI Best XI teams, the Pac-12 tied for the most selections with seven student-athletes and had the most of any league with five on the Freshmen Best XI. UCLA’s First Team selection: Jessie Fleming, UCLA and Andi Sullivan, Stanford. Second Team: Jemma Purfield, ASU; Tierna Davidson, Stanford; Taylor Kornieck, Colorado.Third Team: Emily Boyd, California; Ally Prisock, USC. Freshmen: Emily Smith, California; Kennedy Faulnor, UCLA; Savannah DeMelo, USC; Ashley Sanchez, UCLA; Catarina Macario, Stanford.

CONFERENCE STANDINGS (Expanded standings)

UPCOMING SCHEDULE (Times local to site)

P12N/P12A/P12BA/P12LA/P12M/P12O/P12W - Indicates live broadcast on Pac-12 Network. MWN - Indicates live broadcast on Mountain West Network.

PAC-12 WOMEN'S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

THIS WEEK:
Offensive: Hailie Mace, UCLA 
Defensive: Erika Okuma, USC 
Goalkeeper: Lainey Burdett, Arizona

ALSO NOMINATED
Offensive: Jada Talley, ARIZ; Michelle Xiao, STAN; Nicole Molen, USC; Pascale Dumesnil, WASH; Maegan O'Neill, WSU.
Defensive: Morgan McGarry, ARIZ; Hannah Cardenas, COLO; Tierna Davidson, STAN; Gabrielle Matulich, UCLA; Jessica Udovich, WASH; Maddy Haro, WSU.
Goalkeeper: Jalen Tompkins, COLO; Lauren Rood, STAN; Teagan Micah, UCLA; Kaylie Collins, USC; Sarah Shimer, WASH; Ella Dederick, WSU. 

2017 PAC-12 WOMEN'S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

NATIONAL HONORS

MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List:
Andi Sullivan, Tierna Davidson Stanford; Jemma Purfield; Arizona State, Taylor Kornieck; Colorado, Ally Prisock; USC, Jessie Fleming; UCLA, Hailey Skolmoski; Utah

TopDrawerSoccer Player of the Week
Ashley Sanchez, UCLA, Sept. 12; Jessie Fleming, UCLA, Aug. 22

2017 Senior CLASS Award
Andi Sullivan, STAN; Zoey Goralski, UCLA; Alex Anthony, USC

IN THE PRESEASON
Pac-12 Preseason Poll | NSCAA Preseason Poll | Soccer America Preseason Poll unavailable as of 8/23