Photo by: Tod Fierner
WSOC | Molly Silva Earns First Career WCC Defensive Player of the Week After Game-Winning Header vs. Portland
10/12/2026 2:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
SAN BRUNO, Calif. - Senior defender Molly Silva earned her first career West Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Week award after a player-of-the-match performance this past Saturday in the Gaels' 1-0 victory at Portland. After a game-saving goal-line clearance in the 25th minute, Silva scored the lone goal in the 34th minute, leading the Gaels to their first WCC road victory of the season.
After coming into the 2026 campaign with just one goal in her first three seasons as a Gael, Silva scored her first goal from open play this past Saturday and her third goal this season. Silva would record 180 minutes of action on the week, and now leads the Gaels in minutes played this season at 1,242 minutes. Silva led the Gaels to their tenth shutout of the season, joining SEC member Auburn as one of two teams in the country to reach double-digit shutouts this season.
Silva scored her first goal of the season off a free kick just outside the 18-yard box in the Gaels' 2-0 victory over San Jose State on September 13. Silva then scored the first goal of the WCC season for Saint Mary's, converting another long free kick in the Gaels' 2-1 defeat at Denver. The senior defender out of Sacramento has been brilliant this season, picking up where she left off after a stellar 2025 campaign in which she scored her first collegiate goal and recorded three assists on the season to earn CSC Academic All-District and WCC All-Academic Team Honorable Mention. Â
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Saint Mary's returns to Moraga this Saturday, October 17, for Alumni Weekend to take on the San Diego Toreros at 3 p.m. The match can be streamed live on ESPN+, with tickets available for purchase HERE or at smcgaels.com/tickets.Â
Be sure to follow your Gaels on Facebook, Instagram, and X to get all the latest Saint Mary's athletics updates and information.Â
#GaelsRise
After coming into the 2026 campaign with just one goal in her first three seasons as a Gael, Silva scored her first goal from open play this past Saturday and her third goal this season. Silva would record 180 minutes of action on the week, and now leads the Gaels in minutes played this season at 1,242 minutes. Silva led the Gaels to their tenth shutout of the season, joining SEC member Auburn as one of two teams in the country to reach double-digit shutouts this season.
Silva scored her first goal of the season off a free kick just outside the 18-yard box in the Gaels' 2-0 victory over San Jose State on September 13. Silva then scored the first goal of the WCC season for Saint Mary's, converting another long free kick in the Gaels' 2-1 defeat at Denver. The senior defender out of Sacramento has been brilliant this season, picking up where she left off after a stellar 2025 campaign in which she scored her first collegiate goal and recorded three assists on the season to earn CSC Academic All-District and WCC All-Academic Team Honorable Mention. Â
Â
Saint Mary's returns to Moraga this Saturday, October 17, for Alumni Weekend to take on the San Diego Toreros at 3 p.m. The match can be streamed live on ESPN+, with tickets available for purchase HERE or at smcgaels.com/tickets.Â
Be sure to follow your Gaels on Facebook, Instagram, and X to get all the latest Saint Mary's athletics updates and information.Â
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
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