USF's Ocana, SXU's Dybas Get Respective Teams Off To Hot Starts, Gain Women's Soccer Weekly Plaudits

CHICAGO --- Guiding their respective teams to a pair of league wins during the seven-day period from Sept. 15-21, University of St. Francis' Mia Ocana (Chicago, Ill.) and Saint Xavier University's Natalie Dybas (La Grange, Ill.) have been recognized as the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Players of the Week, the league office announced on Tuesday.

Ocana recorded the first hat trick of her career as part of an eight-point week to claim CCAC Offensive Player of the Week accord.  The three goals came in a 5-1 victory over Judson University on Saturday, where she was also credited with an assist.

The senior midfielder/forward posted an assist, as well, on Wednesday when the Fighting Saints defeated Trinity Christian College 4-0.

The wins opened the conference season for USF, which is 5-1-1 overall.

Dybas gathered in CCAC Defensive Player of the Week accolades after playing a lead role in a pair of league shutouts for Saint Xavier.  The junior stopped two shots in a 3-0 win opposite Indiana University Northwest on Wednesday.  Three days later, she appeared in goal for the first 45 minutes of another 3-0 victory, this time versus Governors State University.

The shutouts were the first two on the season for Saint Xavier, which evened out its overall record at 3-3-1, while opening the conference campaign at 2-0.

Other Offensive Nominees: Brynlee Kelly (Viterbo), Piper Ellenberger (Indiana Northwest), Nikolina Panagiotou (Calumet St. Joseph), Frances Parks (Holy Cross), Aaliyah Racadio-Kahoohanohano (Olivet Nazarene), Paige Swaw (Saint Xavier).

Other Defensive Nominees: Giselle Mata (St. Francis), Meegan Randall (Olivet Nazarene), Isabel Escalera (Indiana Northwest), Janiah Juarez (Holy Cross), Domenica Soliz (Calumet St. Joseph), Jonna Tucker (St. Ambrose).