Grand Canyon University sophomore midfielder/forward Marina Nesic (Koceljeva, Serbia/Nada Dimic Zemun), who scored two goals and had an assist in the Antelopes' 4-0 shutout of New Mexico Highlands University on Sept. 7, was named to the PacWest Women's Soccer Weekly Top 10 Honor Roll.
The award, for matches played Sept. 6-12, was announced today by the PacWest Media Office in Phoenix.
Nesic initially was credited with one goal and two assists in the NMHU game, but today one of the assists, which came on an own goal by the Cowgirls, was changed to a goal. Rule 10.4.2 states that an offensive player whose shot is deflected into the goal by the goalkeeper or a defender receives credit for the goal, provided the momentum of the shot carried the ball into the goal. That's exactly what happened against NMHU.
Nesic, who missed the past two seasons, including last year due to a knee injury, now has four goals in GCU's first three games of the 2010 season. She scored the game's first goal in GCU's tough 2-1 overtime loss to Cal State San Bernardino on Sept. 5. She also scored the first goal in the season opener against Saint Martin's on Sept. 3 on a penalty kick.
The Saint Martin's and Cal State San Bernardino matches were not factored into the decison regarding the Pacific West Conference Women's Soccer Player of the Week because they were played before Sept. 6. As a result, BYU-Hawaii goalkeeper Megan McCain, who saved all 11 shots in the Seasiders' 0-0 double-overtime draw with No. 17-ranked Seattle Pacific on Sept. 8, won the award instead.
The GCU individual season record for goals is 13, set by Vanessa Young in 2005. The career record is 27, also established by Young in four seasons (2005-08).
The 'Lopes (2-1-0) leave Wednesday afternoon for the Bay Area, where they will play Dominican University of California on Thursday in San Rafael, Academy of Art on Saturday in San Francisco, Hawai'i Hilo on Monday in Belmont (the match is hosted by Notre Dame de Namur) and Notre Dame de Namur on Wednesday, also in Belmont.
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