BIG SKY RELEASE (PDF)

COLLEGESOCCER360.COM RELEASE

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Junior forward Jenna Samora received a pair of distinctions Tuesday, as she earned Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week honors and was named as a Primetime Performer by CollegeSoccer360.com. She becomes the first Lumberjack to win Offensive Player of the Week honors this season and is also the first NAU player to make the national Primetime Performer weekly honor roll.

The Eatonville, Wash. native helped lead NAU to a pair of wins last weekend in totaling one goal and two assists in two games played. On Friday against Sacramento State, Samora assisted on a pair of goals in a one minute and six second stretch to give NAU a 3-2 victory. On Sunday against Portland State, she scored on a superb diving header in front of the Viking goal off a free kick from Junior Kristi Andreassen to put the Lumberjacks up 2-0. NAU had earned Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week honors in each of the last-four weeks, with Samora earning her first-career weekly honor after being an All-Big Sky First Team selection last season.

In addition to winning the conference award, Samora earned national acclaim by being one of 12 players selected to the CollegeSoccer360.com Primetime Performers Weekly Honor Roll. Selection for the CS360 weekly awards is based on several "primetime" criteria, including the quality of the opponent and situational factors involved in the player's accomplishments, performance at a high level in a game or games that are key to the team's postseason qualification, and exhibiting strong leadership and/or being involved in clutch performances, such as game-winning goals and late scores. The other 11 Primetime Performer honorees spread across the country and include players from nationally-ranked North Carolina, New Mexico, Oregon State, California, Hofstra and Ohio State. Oregon State defender Brittany Galindo was selected as the Primetime Player of the Week.

Samora now has three goals and two assists this season for eight points and leads the team with 33 shots. The Big Sky-leading Lumberjacks return to action on Friday, hosting Montana at 3 p.m. in Lumberjack Stadium.

DID YOU KNOW…Overall, 26 student-athletes earned a 4.0 GPA for the 2010 spring semester, representing all 15 squads. The soccer team led the department with seven student-athletes with a 4.0 GPA for the semester.