CW Announces Players of the Week After Historic Weekend
Nine student-athletes recognized across the conference
Sept. 26, 2023 – It was an incredible weekend across Canada West, highlighted by a historic moment on the gridiron that caught national and international headlines.
With a medley of incredible performances to recognize, the conference is proud to present its Players of the Week.
Football Offensive Player of the Week
QB Garrett Rooker - UBC
27-34 | 363 YDS | 3 TD Throwing | 1 Rushing TD
In a showdown of two undefeated teams, Rooker continued his torrid start to the year. The third-year QB from League City, Texas, threw for 363 yards and three touchdowns in what was his most prolific game of the season, leading the T-Birds to an impressive54-37 homecoming victory. He also scored an gutsy rushing touchdown of his own, putting his body on the line while hurdling through the air and getting a piece of the pylon. The win moves the Thunderbirds to 4-0 for the first time since 1992. Rooker is averaging 325.8 yards throwing per game, second in U SPORTS.
Football Defensive Player of the Week
DB Nate Beauchemin - Calgary
3 INT for 74 Yards | 1 TD | 3 Solo Tackles | 4 Asst Tackles | 5 Total Tackles
Beauchemin’s thievery helped the Dinos put a scare into the two-time defending champion Saskatchewan Huskies. The third-year defensive back from Kelowna, B.C. tied a Dinos program record with three interceptions – including returning his first pick off for a 32-yard touchdown that give Calgary an early lead. He also had three solo tackles and four assisted tackles, helping the Dinos defence frustrate a typically explosive Huskie offence.
Football Special Teams Player of the Week
K Maya Turner - Manitoba
2/2 FG | LG 21 | 3/3 XP – 9 PTS
She didn’t just make U SPORTS history – she went and won a football game, too. Maya Turner made national headlines on Saturday, becoming the first woman to play in a regular season U SPORTS football game. It wasn’t long before she became the first woman to score a point, after drilling a 21-yard field goal in the second quarter.
After Regina tied the game with 35 seconds left, Turner’s number was called again in the second overtime, where she hit a pressure packed 21-YD field goal to give the Bisons the lead. Manitoba’s defence took it the rest of the way, giving the Bisons an unforgettable 27-24 win.
Overall, Turner scored nine points, hitting both her field goal attempts along with converts on all three of Manitoba's touchdowns.
Turner received the game ball in a moment that has since gone viral, being viewed by thousands after being picked up on social media by outlets including ESPN, ESPN W and TSN.
Field Hockey
Riley Brown – UBC
2 Goals
Brown provided key offensive touch for the T-Birds in a weekend showdown with defending champion Victoria. Brown started the weekend by scoring the game winning goal in the 54th minute of Saturday’s 2-1 win. She then scored the T-Birds only goal in a 3-1 loss on Sunday, converting a penalty shot in the 41st minute.
Rugby 15s
Savannah Bauder - UBC
3 Tries | 1 Drop Goal | 7 Converts
Bauder was up to her usual domination, helping the T-Birds blow past the Calgary Dinos 96-0 on Sunday. The fourth-year fly-half from North Vancouver, B.C. was unstoppable in scoring three tries and adding seven converts. She also scored a rare drop goal in the commanding victory. The Thunderbirds are 3-0 and once again perched on top of the Canada West standings.
Men's Soccer
Matthew Pearse – Victoria
2 GP | 2 Goals
Pearse provided the heroics in a 3-2 comeback win over the MacEwan Griffins last Friday. With his team down 2-1, Pearse equalized in the 70th minute, receiving a cross from teammate Jordan Mckinty and slipping it past the goalkeeper. He then scored the game winner just eight minutes later, taking a pass from Remi Barbot to the centre of the box and drilling it past the Griffins' goalkeeper. The win marked the first time this season the Vikes have come back from a goal deficit to win.
Pearse and his teammates proceeded to sweep the weekend with a 3-0 win over Calgary the following day.
Women's Soccer
Laren Spiller - TWU
2 GP | 3 Goals | 1 Assist
The Spartans rookie midfielder had a weekend to remember, scoring her first Canada West goal and then adding two more while also tallying an assist over two games on the weekend.
On Friday night the first-year Psychology student from Surrey B.C. had two goals and an assist as TWU defeated the Regina Cougars 4-0.
Spiller followed up on Saturday night with another goal and two shots on goal to help the Spartans to a 3-0 win over the Saskatchewan Huskies.
Women's Golf
Khushi Hooda – UBC Okanagan
Hooda was the top Canada West finisher at the Saint Martin’s Invitational last week in DuPont Washington. She finished T7 after shooting a two-round total of five-over par 149, including a round of one-under par 71 on the final day.
Her performance helped the Heat finish 3rd at the event, as they moved up 3 spots on the team leaderboard on the final day.
Men's Golf
Zach Ryujin - Victoria
Ryujin led the way for the Vikes at the Saint Martin's University Bishop Invitational, who shot under-par in each of the three rounds of play to finish in a tie for third individually at -5 overall, just one stroke off the two players that tied for first. Ryujin shot 71 (-1) to open the tournament and followed with two -2 rounds of 70 and 70 to close out the third-place finish, improving from his seventh-place showing at the same tournament in 2022.
