Taylor Arakaki Named SCIAC Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week

CLAREMONT, Calif. - First-year defender Taylor Arakaki earned the SCIAC Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week Award for matches through Sunday, Oct. 27, the league office announced today.

Arakaki captured the honor after playing a big role in helping CMS earn two shutouts. After coming off the bench and playing both defense and midfield this season, Arakaki moved into the starting line-up this week at outside back, with starting Katrina Ostrom and Ava Sherry both out with injuries, and helped the Athenas keep their opponents off the scoreboard in front of three different goalies. 

In the big game of the week against Cal Lutheran, which came into the contest with only one loss all year at 8-1-3, Arakaki helped CMS hold Cal Lutheran to only one shot on target in the entire contest in a 1-0 victory as sophomore Athena Manthouli picked up the shutout. Against Caltech, the Athenas again held the Beavers to only one shot on target (a 35-yard free kick) as junior Cam Hamson and senior Hayden Craig combined on the shutout. 

The two wins put CMS in a position to clinch a SCIAC Tournament bid with either a win or a tie at Chapman in its finale on Saturday. The Athenas will be trying to qualify for their first conference tournament bid since winning the SCIAC in 2016.