BOSTON, Mass. – Two members of the Wentworth Institute of Technology women's soccer team have earned weekly honors from The Commonwealth Coast Conference. Sophomore keeper Jess Gardner (Wilbraham, Mass.) was named the league's defensive player of the week, while freshman midfielder Ashley Cook (San Diego, Calif.) earned rookie of the week honors.
Gardner helped the Leopards to a 1-1 week by posting a 1.50 goals against average and making 18 saves in 180 minutes of work. In a 1-0 loss at University of New England, she allowed a first-half goal but made seven of her 11 saves in the second half. She followed that up by holding league-leading Endicott scoreless over the final 68:50 in a 3-2, upset win in which she made seven saves. The win was just the second by Wentworth over Endicott in the 16 all-time meetings between the two schools and snapped a six-game series losing streak to the Gulls.
On the season Gardner has started all 14 games for the 4-9-1 Leopards and has a 2.35 goals against average with 102 saves in 1223:29 of work.
Cook played in both of Wentworth's games last week, and, despite being held scoreless at the University of New England, she helped to complete a three-goal, second half comeback against Endicott when she converted a penalty kick opportunity with 12 seconds remaining in regulation to lift Wentworth to a 3-2 triumph over the Gulls. Nearly 37 minutes earlier she factored in the game-tying goal with an assist.
Starting 11 of the 14 games she has played in during her inaugural season, Cook has scored two goals and added two assists for sis points. Both of her goals have been game-winning markers, with the other coming in an 8-0 win at Regis on Oct. 2.
The Leopards host Nichols in a TCCC contest Tuesday afternoon.
