COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference has announced its Week 4 Women’s Soccer Player of the Week awards, with Regis University’s Natalie Bunch, Colorado Mesa University’s Olivia Barrett, and University of Colorado Colorado Springs’ Nylah Mirshafiei securing the conference’s latest awards.

Offensive
Natalie Bunch, Regis (Senior, Forward, Moses Lake, Washington)
Bunch had an outstanding week for the Rangers, as her squad went 2-0 in matches against Adams State and New Mexico Highlands. The Moses Lake, Washington native opened the week with a commanding showing in Alamosa, where she powered Regis to a 3-1 victory over Adams State. In that match, Bunch tallied five points, netting two unassisted goals and adding an assist. She carried that momentum into Sunday’s clash with New Mexico Highlands, putting on a clinic in a 4-0 win. Bunch recorded a natural hat trick, scoring in the 9th, 13th, and 28th minutes. With her stellar performances, the senior finished the weekend as the RMAC leader in goals, points, and shots.

Others Nominated: Fatso Williams, Adams State; Peyton Hill, Black Hills State; Kylie Wells, Colorado Mesa; Abby Menk, CSU Pueblo; Emily Aguilar, UCCS.

Defensive
Olivia Barrett, Colorado Mesa (Sophomore, Defender, Castle Rock, Colorado)
Barrett had a pair of strong performances for the Mavericks, as she led her team to a 2-0 weekend, facing Colorado Christian University and Metropolitan State University of Denver. In Friday’s matchup with Colorado Christian, the sophomore was a defensive force, anchoring a Colorado Mesa defense that allowed just one shot on goal en route to a shutout victory. She also made her presence felt on the offensive end, assisting Kylie Wells on a key goal in the 75th minute. Barrett continued her dominant form on Sunday against the Roadrunners, once again leading a stingy CMU defense to a clean sheet, this time limiting MSU Denver to just four total shots. She capped off the weekend with a contribution on offense, scoring the game-winning goal in the 33rd minute to secure the Mavericks’ second shutout win.

Others Nominated: Ainsley Wilson, Black Hills State; Callie Fuhr, Colorado School of Mines; Gianna Sparaco, Regis; Mailia Groshong, UCCS; Kara Dickey, Westminster.

Goalkeeper
Nylah Mirshafiei, UCCS (Junior, Goalkeeper, Huntington Beach, California)
For the second straight week, Mirshafiei has been named RMAC Goalkeeper of the Week. The standout junior recorded back-to-back shutouts in wins over Fort Lewis and Western Colorado, continuing her dominant form between the posts. In the Mountain Lions’ first match of the week, Mirshafiei faced 12 total shots from Fort Lewis, including four on target. The Huntington Beach, California native turned away every one of them, preserving a 1-0 win and securing her third clean sheet of the season. She followed that performance with another flawless outing against Western Colorado, making six more saves to post her second shutout of the weekend and fourth of the season.

Others Nominated: Karsyn Fraser-Slothower, Black Hills State; Keely Wieczorek, Colorado Mesa; Allie Lundgren, Colorado School of Mines; Kayla Caballero, MSU Denver; Marin Mackenzie, Westminster.

About the RMAC
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, headquartered in Colorado Springs, is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 institutions located in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Utah. The RMAC currently competes in 22 NCAA Division II sports and has earned 67 national championships and 53 national runners-up since 1992. Founded in 1909, the RMAC is the most historic athletic conference in the western United States and Division II.