SAN DIEGO – San Diego State women’s soccer defender Grace Goins was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week and goalkeeper Kailey Carlen garnered Freshman of the Week accolades, the league announced Monday.
The pair contributed to a pair of shutouts as the Aztecs (4-2-2) defeated Nevada 4-0 on Thursday before drawing with Hawai’i 0-0 on Sunday.
Goins started both matches and played all 180 minutes on the week. She led the Aztec defense that allowed no goals and just five shots on goal during the week. Goins also attempted a shot in Thursday’s win over Nevada.
Carlen also started both matches and played for all 180 minutes. She saved all three shots on goal against Nevada on Thursday before stopping both of Hawai’i’s shots on goal on Sunday.
San Diego State’s defense has shutouts in its last three matches and has not allowed a goal in 335:12. SDSU has five shutouts total including four in its last five matches. The Aztecs have allowed just two goals across six matches against unranked teams and no goals in five matches against teams not receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches poll.
Goins and Carlen join last week’s Offensive Player of the Week winner Victoria Miller as the three Aztecs to win weekly awards so far this season. Last year, the team combined for five weekly awards, all of which came during two weeks: September 30 and November 2.
The Aztecs begin their final season of Mountain West play this week. SDSU opens at Grand Canyon at 7 p.m. on Thursday night before returning home to face Colorado College at noon on Sunday. Both matches will be broadcast on the Mountain West Network and admission is free to Sunday’s match on the SDSU Sports Deck.