Gonzales Grabs ECAC Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week Honor

CENTERVILLE, Mass. – Sophomore Amelia Gonzales (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) of the Eastern Nazarene women's soccer team has been named the ECAC Defensive Player of the Week, in an announcement made Wednesday afternoon.

Gonzales played a vital role in the Lions posting a 1-0-1 record last week as she tallied a goal and anchored the backline. She was also tabbed the CCC Defensive Player of the Week earlier this week.

In Eastern Nazarene's 1-1 draw against the University of New England in the regular season finale, the sophomore netted her first collegiate goal to level the score. Gonzales headed home a corner kick service from Tina Corey (Canterbury, Conn.) in the 51st minute after the Nor'easters claimed a 1-0 lead in the 48th minute.

The tie against UNE secured the Lions' first-ever home playoff match as they earned the No. 4 seed in the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament.

In Eastern Nazarene's quarterfinal match against the fifth-seeded Nor'easters, Gonzales was a mainstay on the Lions' defensive unit as they posted a 1-0 victory to advance to the semifinals. The shutout was Eastern Nazarene's fifth this fall.

Gonzales earned All-CCC honorable mention this year and has four points to her credit on a goal and two assists.

The Lions own a 9-7-3 overall record on the year and finished the regular-season sporting a 5-2-2 mark in the Commonwealth Coast Conference.

Looking ahead, Eastern Nazarene travels to top-seeded Gordon November 1 for the CCC semifinals. The Lions dropped a 3-0 decision at home to the Fighting Scots earlier this season.