STANFORD, Calif. – Alana Cook was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season after helping lead Stanford to a pair of victories this past weekend.
Cook, the reigning Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, made the defensive play of the game against Washington State on Thursday night. In the 59th minute, Cook was guarding the far post on a corner kick, kept her hands behind her back and blocked a header on goal with her chest to keep the game at 0-0.
Not to be overlooked ... @whatz_Cookin with an outstanding stop on the goal line to keep the score 0-0 in the 59th minute. #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/AA4qsTzJTZ
— Stanford Soccer (@StanfordWSoccer) September 30, 2016
Stanford scored less than five minutes later to take a 1-0 lead. Cook continued to shut down the Cougars high-pressure attack to help the Cardinal earn a 2-1 victory.
Cook had an excellent game against Washington, helping Stanford earn a 3-0 victory despite the Cardinal playing with 10 players for nearly 80 minutes due to an early red card. Cook played a major role in holding the Huskies to one shot on goal for the remainder of the game after the red card.
It is the third career Pac-12 weekly award for Cook after earning honors on Nov. 3, 2015, and Aug. 23, 2016.
Cook and the Cardinal hit the road this week for a pair of matchups against No. 7 USC and No. 10 UCLA.