Aug. 30, 2010

IRVINE, Calif. - Sophomore forward Nadia Link has been named the Big West Conference Offensive Player of the Week, while junior goalkeeper Emily Kingsborough was named the Defensive Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday afternoon.

The duo led Long Beach State to a 3-0 showing, which included wins over nationally ranked teams Washington State and Virginia Tech at the Aggieland Invitational Tournament.

Link had a breakout week, scoring four goals over the three contests. She netted the game-winner in the 89th minute of a 1-0 victory at Fresno State. The Rowland Heights, Calif., native continued on her goal-scoring tear in College Station, Texas, getting the 49ers on the board in an eventual 2-1 triumph over No. 21 Washington State. She saved her best performance for last, finding the back of the net twice in a 2-1 victory against 16th-ranked Virginia Tech. Link finished the week with four goals, two game-winning goals, eight points and nine shot attempts.

Kingsborough, meanwhile, anchored the LBSU defense as she picked up her first shutout of the season at Fresno State, where she turned away four Bulldog shots. The Santa Rosa, Calif., native then allowed just one goal in a pair of 2-1 victories against No. 21 Washington State and No. 16 Virginia Tech. Kingsborough had five stops against WSU and four against the Hokies. On the week, she posted 13 saves, a 0.67 goals against average and an .867 save percentage.

Long Beach State returns to George Allen Field this weekend as it plays host to Utah State on Friday, Sept. 3 at 4:30 p.m. The 49ers will then entertain Sacramento State on Sunday (Sept. 5) at 1 p.m.