The first match on the 2023 PacWest schedule had red ink all over it, and the game between Concordia matched the hype with the Golden Eagles claiming a narrow 1-0 win over Point Loma. CUI is the Team of the Week, and defender Brianna Guerra is the Defender of the Week for her role in yet another Golden Eagle shutout. Alyssa Padron scored three goals last week for Hawai'i Hilo as the Vulcans won three times to remain unbeaten.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Hawai'i Hilo's Alyssa Padron, MF, Sr., San Pedro, Calif.
Alyssa Padron scored three of Hawai'i Hilo's 12 goals in three matches last week to earn Player of the Week. The senior midfielder scored twice in a 3-0 win over Chaminade and also got a shot past the keeper in a 3-1 victory over HPU. The only match that she didn't score in was UHH's 6-0 victory over Academy of Art. Teammate Teani Arakawa gets most of the Vulcan headlines for leading the conference in virtually every offensive category (Arakawa had three more goals last week as well), but Padron is quietly right behind her with 1.33 points per match (second in conference), four goals (second), 14 shots on goal (second) and 23 total shots (first).
DEFENDER OF THE WEEK: CUI's Brianna Guerra, D, Sr., Anaheim, Calif.
Concordia posted two more shutouts this past week, including a 1-0 blanking of 2022 playoff squad Point Loma. Brianna Guerra had a big part of that success on the defensive side of the field, directing her team along with goalkeeper Riley Urquiza, who had nine saves on the week. "Bri has been the rock for our back line,: said her coach Chris Gould. "She organizes us when we don't have the ball, win battles on set pieces, and sets the standard for our team defensively. She has quietly been one of the best centerbacks at our level."
TEAM OF THE WEEK: Concordia University Irvine Golden Eagles
The PacWest Team of Week again is the Concordia Golden Eagles. CUI won a 1-0 defensive battle with Point Loma in the first conference match of 2023. It marked the sixth straight match that Concordia has posted a zero on the opponent scoreboard, and overall they have given up just one goal on the season. They have won six straight and have outscored their opponent 13-0 during that stretch. In addition to Brianna Guerro's direction (see above), goalkeeper Riley Urquiza had nine saves in two matches last week, including six saves in a 1-0 shutout of Cal State East Bay. Val Cortez scored the only goal that CUI would need against the Pioneers on a rocket from way out, and Olivia Campo drilled the only score of the match against the Sea Lions on a penalty kick.
PACWEST NEWS AND NOTES: In today's United Soccer Coaches Associaton Division II poll, Hawai'i Hilo moved up a couple of spots to No. 6. Concordia finally made its first appearance at No. 14. The only other west region team in the poll is Cal Poly Humboldt at No. 21...Dominican and Biola both won matches last week, with the Penguins edging Academy of Art 1-0, while the Eagles topped Cal State San Marcos, 2-1. Kierstin Havens had a goal and an assist for Biola against the Cougars and keeper Autum Monty had eight saves ... In ART U's loss to Dominican, Urban Knight goalkeeper Nicole Peoples had an astounding 14 saves in 88 minutes of action ... Filippa Graneld had a goal and assist in UH Hilo's 3-1 win over HPU. Shark keeper Sophia Garrido had 11 saves in the match, and added six more on Monday during a 1-1 tie with Dominican ... UHH's Jazlynn Ellis had a goal and assist in the 3-0 win over Chaminade ... Westmont tied Azusa Pacific 0-0 in a non-conference battle ... Point Loma bounced back from the Concordia loss with a 5-0 pummeling of Cal State Dominguez Hills on Monday. The Sea Lions had scores from five different players ... Chaminade hit the road and picked up a 2-0 win over Fresno Pacific, thanks in part to six saves from keeper Naomi Takata.
LOOKING AHEAD: Hawai'i Hilo continues their trek in northern California with matches at Dominican on Thursday and Fresno Pacific on Saturday ... Hawaii Pacific and Chaminade are on the same trip with matches this week against FPU, Dominican and ART U ... Azusa Pacific will play a non-conference bout at Cal State San Bernardino on Wednesday before traveling to Point Loma for a key Saturday match ... Biola is at Concordia on Wednesday ... Westmont is at Biola on Saturday.Â
