By: Jeff Evans, Assistant AD for Athletic Communications
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – For the fourth time in her career and second time this season, WWU senior midfielder
Morgan Manalili has been recognized as the GNAC Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week.
Manalili (Shoreline, WA/Shorecrest HS) was a contributor on four of the Vikings seven goals in a road sweep over Montana State Billings on Thursday (4-0 victory) and against No. 18 rival Seattle Pacific on Saturday (3-0 victory).
In the win at Billings Manalili had a pair of assists and in the blanking of SPU recorded her third multi-goal game of the season with a pair of goals.
"Morgan has a knack for recognizing the big moments in the match and rising to the occasion in those moments," said WWU head coach
Travis Connell. "The quality and timing of her goals and assists last weekend were hugely impactful in the outcomes of our matches."
For the season, Manalili leads the GNAC and ranks 11th in the nation with eight goals. She is also 8th in NCAA Division II with 21 total points adding in five assists.
For her career, Manalili continues to climb the charts in the WWU record book, ranking 13th with 26 goals, 8th with 21 assists and tied for 11th in points (73) while playing in 78 games (71 starts). Manalili is the GNAC's active career leader in both goals (26) and assists (21), ranking in the top-30 in conference history in both categories.
The four career GNAC Player of the Week awards move her into a tie for 3rd place in program history, matching the four awards won by Catherine Miles and
Jamie Arthurs.
The Vikings are 5-1-3 overall and off to an undefeated 3-0-1 start to the conference season. WWU carries a six-game unbeaten streak (5-0-1) into Thursday's match-up with nationally ranked Western Oregon (7-1-1, 4-0-0 GNAC) with kickoff scheduled for 7 pm at Harrington Field.
