Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
WSOC | Plachy Earns WCC Defensive Player of the Week After 5-Save 2026 Season Debut
8/31/2026 1:56:00 PM | Women's Soccer
SAN BRUNO, Calif. — Saint Mary's women's soccer's redshirt junior goalkeeper Kate Plachy was named the West Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Week following just her first 73 minutes of action of the season in a 1-0 victory over USC. The honor marks Plachy's sixth time receiving the award over her career, after ending the 2025 season as the WCC Goalkeeper of the Year.
Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Soraya Souvanaphong has started in goal for Saint Mary's this season, tallying ten saves over five games while also earning her first-ever WCC Defensive Player of the Week award back on August 24. Souvanaphong started the game against USC in goal but was forced to exit after sustaining an injury in the 17th minute. Plachy took over for Souvanaphong and sealed the win with a season-high five saves and earned a share of her 19th career shutout.
The victory gave the Gaels their eleventh unbeaten game and pushed the program record to five shutouts to start a season. Plachy finished last season starting all 18 games and recorded a team high 1,620 minutes of action, while only allowing 11 goals with 12 shutouts over the year. In addition to the 2025 WCC Goalkeeper of the Year honor, Plachy also earned All-WCC First Team and United Soccer Coaches All-West Region First Team honors.
Saint Mary's will be back in action this week as they host Columbia on Thursday, September 3 at 5:00 p.m. before taking on Northern Arizona on Sunday, September 6 at 1:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at smcgaels.com/tickets and both matches can be streamed live on ESPN+.
Be sure to follow your Gaels on Facebook, Instagram, and X to get all the latest Saint Mary's athletics updates and information.
#GaelRise
Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Soraya Souvanaphong has started in goal for Saint Mary's this season, tallying ten saves over five games while also earning her first-ever WCC Defensive Player of the Week award back on August 24. Souvanaphong started the game against USC in goal but was forced to exit after sustaining an injury in the 17th minute. Plachy took over for Souvanaphong and sealed the win with a season-high five saves and earned a share of her 19th career shutout.
The victory gave the Gaels their eleventh unbeaten game and pushed the program record to five shutouts to start a season. Plachy finished last season starting all 18 games and recorded a team high 1,620 minutes of action, while only allowing 11 goals with 12 shutouts over the year. In addition to the 2025 WCC Goalkeeper of the Year honor, Plachy also earned All-WCC First Team and United Soccer Coaches All-West Region First Team honors.
Saint Mary's will be back in action this week as they host Columbia on Thursday, September 3 at 5:00 p.m. before taking on Northern Arizona on Sunday, September 6 at 1:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at smcgaels.com/tickets and both matches can be streamed live on ESPN+.
Be sure to follow your Gaels on Facebook, Instagram, and X to get all the latest Saint Mary's athletics updates and information.
#GaelRise
Players Mentioned
GK
/ Women's SoccerGK
/ Women's SoccerMonday, August 31
Sunday, August 30
Sunday, August 23
Thursday, August 20
