Tagaloa named PacWest Freshman of the Week — twice For the second straight week, Point Loma Nazarene University rookie midfielder Nico Tagaloa (Orange, Foothill) has been selected the Pacific West Conference Men’s Soccer Freshman of the Week (Sept. 16-22). Tagaloa was credited with the game-winning goal in a 3-0 victory at Dominican on Sept. 19. He reeled off a long-range shot to the lower side of the far corner at 3:01 to give the Sea Lions an early 1-0 lead. PLNU scored goals in the 14th and 65th minutes to secure the key early-season road win in the Bay Area. Later, he helped lock down the midfield as the Sea Lions earned a 0-0 tie at Notre Dame de Namur.
The conference announced the honor Sept. 16-22. The Freshman of the Week honor is awarded each week to a freshman or red-shirt freshman for his overall outstanding play. PLNU hosts its first-ever collegiate tournament at Torrey Pines Point Loma hosted its first-ever collegiate tournament at the Torrey Pines Golf Course on Sept. 23-24. The Sea Lions and six other teams played the north course over the two-day PLNU Fall Preview Classic. Kathleen Crossley tied for sixth at the tournament with an 8-over, 156 to help lead the Point Loma women’s golf team to a fourth place finish.
Crossley led the Sea Lions throughout the 36-hole tournament. After posting a 76 (+2) on the first day, Crossley fired an 80 (+6) in the final round to claim a tie for sixth place. Andrea Mersino gave PLNU a second top-20 finisher as she registered a score of 161 (+13) to tie for 16th place. She shot a 79 (+5) in the first round and an 82 (+8) to close out the tournament.
As a team, the Sea Lions backed up their 315 (+19) from the opening round with a 321 (+25) in the second round. Their combined score of 636 (+44) left them just two strokes back of third-place Sonoma State.
Cal Baptist seized control in the tight team competition by shooting a 1-over, 297 on Sept. 24. This shaved 16 strokes off their first-round performance and gave them the team championship by 11 strokes over Dallas Baptist. The Lancers’ Marvi Monsalve also claimed the individual title with a 1-under, 147. Swendener named PacWest Runner of the Week Point Loma sophomore Briana Swendener (Brea) has been selected the Pacific West Conference Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week for the week of Sept. 16-22.
Swendener finished 30th among all runners from four-year institutions at the 2013 Aztec XC Invitational hosted by San Diego State University on Sept. 21 in Balboa Park. She recorded a time of 20:29 on the 5K course to lead the Sea Lions to a fifth-place finish. This was the second straight meet Swendener has paced the Sea Lions cross country team this season. She also led the team to a second-place finish at the UCSD Opener as she placed 14th with a time of 16:36.4. Herrera earns PacWest Defender of the Week Award Sophomore goalie Lupe Herrera (La Quinta) has been selected the Pacific West Conference Women’s Soccer Defender of the Week for the week of Sept. 16-22.
Herrera led the Sea Lions to a 1-0-1 week by stopping 17 of 19 shots on goal for an .895 save percentage and produced a 0.90 goals against average in 200:00 of action. Herrera halted 10-of-11 shots on goal in a 1-1 double-overtime draw at Dominican on Sept. 19. Two days later, she repelled 7-of-8 shots on net in a 2-1 victory at Notre Dame de Namur.
The Defender of the Week honor is awarded each week to a back or goalkeeper for outstanding defensive play.