Scharkey Named Defensive Player of the Week
WOODLAND, Calif. – Oregon junior defender Ali Scharkey was named the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation’s Defensive Player of the Week on Monday as announced by the conference. Scharkey totaled 10 groundballs, four draw controls and a pair of caused turnovers in her return to the lineup for UO.
This is the first weekly conference honor for the Yorba Linda, Calif., native and the second conference honor for Oregon this season.
Scharkey rejuvenated the Oregon defense in her return to the lineup, and helped the Ducks cause 22 turnovers against George Washington, Robert Morris and Richmond.
In her first game back, Scharkey tied her career-high in groundballs with six against George Washington to help Oregon fend off a physical GW team for the 8-6 win.
Three days later, the junior captain lifted her team to a 16-4 win over Robert Morris. She picked up a pair of goals in the game to go with a caused turnover.
In the 15-11 win over Richmond, Scharkey not only picked up two groundballs, but was able to grab three crucial draw controls for Oregon down the stretch when UR threatened in the second half. The three draw controls on Sunday was a career-high for the junior.
USC took home the two other weekly honors with Kylie Drexel taking home offensive player of the week honors and Gussie Johns earning rookie of the week accolades.
Oregon returns to action at noon on Saturday, March 21, against Monmouth for a neutral site match-up in Fresno, Calif., to start its four-game road trip.
