McCullough Named Pac-12 Defensive Player of Week
November 06, 2018 | Women's Soccer
UCLA junior Kaiya McCullough was selected the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season and third time in her career.
McCullough made several huge defensive plays to help lead the Bruins to a thrilling 3-2 double overtime win against No. 2 USC. In the 47th minute, she raced back on a breakaway to track down Pac-12 goals leader Penelope Hocking, preventing a goal-scoring opportunity that could have given USC a 2-0 lead. McCullough also had a key stop in the 89th minute, getting a clean tackle on Savannah DeMelo at the top of the box to dispossess. McCullough is one of just two Bruins who has started every game this year, and she ranks second on the team in minutes played with 1,511.
UCLA has totaled eight Pac-12 weekly honors this season and a Pac-12 high 78 all-time. McCullough's defensive honor is the fifth by a Bruin this year, and UCLA finished the regular season winning four of the final five Defensive Player of the Week awards. McCullough and Karina Rodriguez have won the award twice, and Delanie Sheehan won on Oct. 16. Additionally, Hailie Mace was named Offensive Player of the Week Aug. 21, and Teagan Micah was the Goalkeeper of the Week on Oct. 16 and Aug. 28.
The No. 2 seed Bruins begin postseason play on Friday, Nov. 9 against San Jose State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Wallis Annenberg Stadium. Tickets are on sale now at uclabruins.com/tickets.
