Monday, May 24, 2021

PORTLAND, Ore. – Western Washington put a winning period on the unusual 2021 women’s soccer season on Saturday, which provided the Vikings a sweep of the final GNAC Player of the Week awards for the year.

Seniors Darby Doyle and Natalie Dierickx collected the weekly honors as the duo helped lead the Vikings to a 3-1 win over Central Washington in Bellingham on Saturday. With the win, Western Washington ends the season with a 4-1-2 record.

Doyle scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 48th minute, connecting unassisted on a 20-yard shot to the upper-right corner of the net. It was Doyle’s second goal of the season as she played 62 minutes in the match.

Dierickx earned her fourth win of the season in goal, playing a scoreless 60 minutes while making one save. She capped her performance with a rare goalie assist on Zoie Carbone’s goal in the 49th minute, contributing a long goal kick that led to the goal.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 20
WOMEN’S SOCCER OFFENSIVE
Darby Doyle (Western Washington, M, 5-4, Sr., Gonzaga, Wash. – Gonzaga Prep): Doyle scored the game-winning goal, scoring unassisted in the 48th minute, in the Vikings’ 3-1 victory over Central Washington on Saturday. The goal was Doyle’s second of the season as she played 62 minutes in the season finale.

WOMEN’S SOCCER DEFENSIVE
Natalie Dierickx (Western Washington, GK, 5-7, Sr., Kirkland, Wash. – Colorado State Univ.): Dierickx played a scoreless 60 minutes in goal, making one save, in the Vikings’ 3-1 win over Central Washington on Saturday. Dierickx also had a rare goalie assist on Zoie Carbone’s goal in the 49th minute.