DENVER - Chelsea Small of Idaho and Kanani Taaca of Hawai'i have been named Verizon Western Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for the week of October 10-16.

Small, a junior forward from Solona Beach, Calif. (Torrey Pines HS), scored a pair of goals over the weekend in leading Idaho to a 1-0-1 record in road matches at New Mexico State and Louisiana Tech. She connected on a free kick to give Idaho a 1-0 lead late in the game at NMSU. Small followed up that performance with a header goal in the seventh minute on Sunday at Louisiana Tech. The tally was her 30th career goal and 12th career game-winner, both of which are Idaho records. She has now scored a goal in three of Idaho's last four matches.

Taaca, a junior goalkeeper from Waianae, Hawai'i (Kamehameha Schools), helped Hawai'i retain its first-place standing with a win over Fresno State and tie vs. San Jose State. She recorded four saves en route to her second shutout of the season in a 3-0 win over Fresno State. Taaca then posted four saves to help secure a 1-1 tie against San Jose State. Overall, she allowed just one goal in 200 minutes of action on the weekend.

Other offensive nominees included: Hawai'i midfielder Crystal Fresquez scored a goal and an assist vs. Fresno State ... Nevada midfielder Ellie Stott ... New Mexico State forward Yolanda McMillion scored the game-tying goal vs. Idaho ... San Jose State forward Lauren Sanchez scored the game-tying goal vs. Hawai'i ... Utah State forward Kendra Pemberton scored vs. Nevada.

Other defensive nominees included: Fresno State defender Kendall VanDine ... Idaho defender Christine Leathem helped hold Louisiana Tech scoreless ... Nevada defender Lauren Braman ... New Mexico State midfielder Amber Harrington ... San Jose State goaltender Meghan Maiwald made six saves against Hawai'i ... Utah State defender Natalie Norris helped shutout Nevada and scored the game-winning goal.