OGDEN, Utah (November 3, 2015,) – Sacramento State sophomore Kayla Collins and Weber State defender Abbey Clayton picked up the final Big Sky Conference soccer Player of the Week honors for the 2015 season.
Collins, a forward from Newcastle, Calif., was the hero for the Hornets on Friday when she scored the game-winning goal that put Sac State into this week’s conference tournament. The Hornets needed a win on Friday to qualify for the tournament and Collins was up to the challenge as she took a pass from junior Kassidy Kellogg and fired a shot from 20 yards out for the game-winner against Portland State in overtime last Friday. Collins has scored five goals on the season to go along with five assists.
Clayton, a fifth-year senior from Layton, Utah, helped Weber State hold Idaho State to just three shots on goal in a 1-0 victory on Friday in Pocatello, Idaho. It was Weber State’s fourth shutout of the year, and the Wildcats became just the third team to hold the Bengals scoreless this season. Clayton also showed her offensive skill when she scored the match-winning goal on a rebound of an initial shot from junior central midfielder Chansi Crompton. The goal was Clayton’s first of the season and third of her career. Clayton has started every match of her four seasons at Weber State, and would, with a start against Montana in the Big Sky Conference tournament quarterfinals, tie the Wildcats’ career record for matches played, matches started, and consecutive matches started.
The 2015 Big Sky tournament begins Thursday in Moscow, Idaho. Sacramento State will face Eastern Washington in the first quarterfinal match at 10 a.m. with Weber State and Montana kicking off at 1 p.m. All matches can be seen on WatchBigSky.com
Others Nominated:
Offensive: Chloe Williams – Eastern Washington; Logan Harker – Southern Utah; Clara Gomez – Idaho; Brooke Braden – Northern Colorado
Defensive: M’Kenna Hayes – Eastern Washington; Amanda Pease – Idaho; Adrienne Jordan – Northern Colorado