Aug. 30, 2010

SAN BRUNO, Calif. - LMU freshman Tawni Martino has been named the West Coast Conference Player of the Week for August 23-29, the conference office announced Monday. Martino scored her first three career goals in just her second and third career matches, respectively, to lift LMU to its first two victories of the season.

On Friday in the home opener against 2009 NCAA Tournament participants Denver, Martino (Irvine, Calif.) made the most of her first career start by netting both Lion goals in a 2-1 victory. She collected her first collegiate goal by pouncing on a loose ball and putting LMU in front in the 30th minute. With the game knotted at 1-1 in the 86th minute, Martino headed home a cross from sophomore Cori McGovern to give LMU its first win of the year.

Martino kept up her scoring touch on Sunday at Cal State Bakersfield with her third goal of the weekend. LMU held a tenuous 2-1 advantage when Martino capped the game, and the weekend, by recording LMU's third goal in a 3-1 win. Martino's three goals on the weekend came on her first six collegiate shots.

Martino is the first LMU player to earn WCC Player of the Week honors since Julie Gallaudet on September 28 of last season and the first LMU freshman to gain the accolade since Jill Dobens and Mia Moe in 1999.

LMU travels to Utah on Friday before hosting Tennessee-Martin on Sunday at 1 p.m.