UM Soccer Players Earn BIG EAST Honors

Oct. 23, 2000

CORAL GABLES, Fla.–Lisa Gomez (Boca Raton, Fla.) and Vonda Matthews (Broken Arrow, Ok.) led the University of Miami women’s soccer team to victory this weekend and earned BIG EAST conference honors for their efforts.

This is the first time in school history that a soccer player earns the prestigious award.

Gomez, a sophomore defender, earned BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week honors after leading the Hurricane defense that picked up two cross-divisional wins this week. The defense held Rutgers to eight shots, four on goal, in a 2-1 victory.

Gomez also assisted on the game-winning goal. UM defeated Georgetown 5-1 by holding the Hoyas to just six shots. She also picked up the school record with four assists in one game.

Matthews, a freshman forward, earned BIG EAST Rookie of the Week honors. She scored UM’s second goal, including the game-winning goal over Georgetown and assisted on the third goal.

She netted the fifth goal of the afternoon for the Hurricanes.She led the team with five points in the win over the Hoyas.

After the wins this weekend, Miami is now 3-0-1 versus the Mid-Atlantic division. UM has not lost in the last four games and is currently on a two-game winning streak.

Four freshman, Mary Luke, Vonda Matthews, Nikki Safran and Allison Fordcombined for a total of 14 points for the Hurricanes this weekend, five goalsincluding both game-winning goals and four assists.

Miami plays its final home game of the season Wednesday night at 7 p.m. as they take on No. 17 Florida State at Cobb Stadium. Admission is free.