Nov. 8, 2010

SAN BRUNO, Calif. - LMU senior co-captain Rafael Baca displayed his leadership when the Lions needed it most and was rewarded for his efforts with his second career West Coast Conference Player of the Week honor for November 1-7, the conference office announced Monday. Baca netted his third career two-goal game in LMU's 3-1 win over Portland then helped the Lions defeat Gonzaga 3-2 to move into a tie for first place in the WCC standings. Baca is the fourth different LMU player to earn the conference's weekly honor, which the Lions have won five times in 2010, setting a new school record.

Baca (Lawndale, Calif.) helped LMU take another step closer to its first WCC title when he scored twice on Friday to beat Portland 3-1 in a showdown between teams sitting in second and third in the WCC, respectively. After LMU fell a goal behind in the pivotal matchup and then pulled even, Baca snapped a personal 10-game scoring drought with the game-winning goal two minutes before the break by firing home from 10 yards out for his second goal of the year. He then added an insurance goal in the second half for the third two-goal game of his career and first since September 20, 2009.

Baca's goals also moved him into third place on LMU's career points list with 55 and into fourth place on LMU's career goals list with 19. He continued to lead the Lions on Sunday, helping LMU overcome a 2-0 first-half deficit for a 3-2 victory.

Baca previously won the WCC Player of the Week award for September 21, 2009. He joins Phil Da Silva (co-Player for Sept. 27), Jack McCormack (Oct. 4), and David Ponce (Oct. 11 and 18) as the Lions who have earned the award this year. The five WCC Player of the Week awards for LMU in 2010 tops the previous team-high of four, set last season.

LMU closes out the regular season at home, sitting in a tie with Santa Clara on 22 points atop the WCC standings. The Lions will host Saint Mary's at a new time of 2:30 p.m. on Friday before welcoming in San Francisco at noon on Sunday for Senior Day.