Fueling Two Wins Each, SAU's Hefner, USF's Mata Collect Women's Soccer Weekly Recognition

CHICAGO --- Helping lead their respective teams to a pair of non-conference victories during the seven-day period ending Aug. 31, St. Ambrose University's Mia Hefner (Bloomington, Ill.) and University of St. Francis' Giselle Mata (Carpentersville, Ill.) have been recognized as the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Players of the Week, it was announced by the league office on Tuesday afternoon.

Hefner accounted for all three of her team's goals on the week to collect the conference's offensive distinction.  The junior forward authored the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Clarke University (Iowa) on Wednesday before tallying a pair of scores in a 2-1 nod over Benedictine College (Kan.) on Saturday.

The two game-winning goals produced the first two victories of the season for the Fighting Bees, who are now 2-1 on the campaign.

Mata, meanwhile, made quite the first impression in goal for St. Francis by delivering a pair of shutouts in her initial two matches as a Saint to gain CCAC Defensive Player of the Week accolades.  The junior stopped nine shots in a 1-0 victory over University of Saint Francis (Ind.) on Wednesday.  That was followed by a three-save effort in a 3-0 decision over Indiana University Columbus on Saturday.

The wins came in the first two matches of the season for St. Francis. 

Other Offensive Nominees: Isabel Diez (St. Francis), Alanis Gonzalez (Indiana Northwest), Maddie Manzke (Saint Xavier), Nerea Genc (Trinity Christian), Neyda Macias (Holy Cross), Anna Corpas Salcedo (Mount Mary). 

Other Defensive Nominees: Abigail Fouts (Holy Cross), Natalie Dybas (Saint Xavier), Isabel Escalera (Indiana Northwest), Meegan Randall (Olivet Nazarene), Michelle Urribarri (Trinity Christian).