Conway, Ark. –

Following a strong opening weekend to the season for the Central Arkansas women’s soccer program, junior forward Kristin Pollard and senior goalkeeper Kelsey Gochnauer were named Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week and Goalkeeper of the Week, respectively.

In a week that saw the Bears outscore their opponents 12-1, Pollard, who earns Player of the Week honors for the first time, played a large role in the offensive output. Against Alcorn State on August 17, she was involved in four different goals. In the 27^th minute, Pollard fielded a pass from Cristin Curl and fed it to Marisela Chavez who scored the Bears’ third goal of the day. In the 42^nd minute, Pollard collected the ball off of a throw-in and lofted a long cross to Abby Hodgson, who put the ball in for the Bears’ fourth goal of the game. Just a minute later, Pollard got in the scoring act herself, fielding a pass from Alex Wurst and netting her first goal of the season. Pollard earned her final point of the day in the 79^th minute, crossing the ball to Chavez for Central Arkansas’ ninth goal of the day. Against Louisiana-Monroe on August 19, Pollard got the Bears on the board first, netting her second goal of the season in the 73^rd minute.

Gochnauer earns Goalkeeper of the Week honors for the second time in her career, previously earning the award for the week of September 6^th, 2011. Against Alcorn State, Gochnauer played only the first half, saving the only shot she faced. Against Louisiana-Monroe, Gochnauer recorded six saves, helping to preserve the Bears’ lead late in the game.

This is the first time that Central Arkansas has multiple Player of the Week honorees since Gochnauer and Julie Foerster won Goalkeeper and Defensive honors on September 6^th of last season.