FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- Senior defender Alana D'Onofrio was named as this week's Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week after the Northern Arizona women's soccer team had a stellar weekend.
The Lumberjacks won
two home matches to move into second place in the Big Sky
Conference. NAU shut out Northern Colorado and North Dakota in their final two home matches of the season.
Northern Colorado's Essence Ortiz-Lanier came into the match with five goals on the season. D'Onofrio held Ortiz-Lanier to only two shots with none of the attempts on goal.
The senior captain then led a defensive back line that was stellar on Senior Day against North Dakota as senior goalkeeper Lauren Weaver only had to make one save in 90 minutes. The defense of the Lumberjacks allowed only four shots the entire match and was able to win the seniors' final home match of their careers.
This is the second Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week honor for the senior from Pleasanton, Calif. as her first honor came on Sept. 10 as D'Onofrio help shutout UNLV.
D'Onofrio and the Lumberjacks will travel to Montana and Eastern Washington this week to close out the regular season as they look to make the Big Sky playoffs for the first time since 2010.
