LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Senior Defender Sammy McKay earned PacWest Defender of the Week honors on Monday after he scored both game-winning goals in Biola's two conference matches last week. This is the first time McKay has earned a weekly conference honor; he was recognized as an all-conference defender by the Golden State Athletic Conference in 2016.

McKay has provided the game-winning goal in all three of Biola's wins this season. He provided the only goal of this past Thursday's 1-0 shutout of Notre Dame De Namur. Then McKay put Biola ahead for good with a goal against Dominican University California in the Eagles 5-3 victory.

"Sammy has always been a really reliable player in the back for us," said Head Coach Todd Elkins. "He brings athleticism and competitiveness to our team and he puts it on his own shoulders to make sure the ball doesn't go in the net. This last week was a little bit of a next level for him."

The centerback's contributions in the defensive third were also pivotal to Biola's success, particularly against Notre Dame De Namur. McKay led the Eagles effort to stifle PacWest Preseason Player of Year, Esteban Berumen, to just one shot-on-goal. Berumen had scored a goal in every match he had appeared in until the Eagles' backline held him out of the stat sheet on Thursday.

The Eagles will ride the momentum of last week's wins into a road match this coming Wednesday against Azusa Pacific. Kickoff for the men's match is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. after the women's match at 5:00 p.m.