Nadia Gomes beats a defender in a game earlier this season. Gomes scored two goals in 14 seconds against LMU earning her WCC Player of the Week honors. (Ari Davis)
Nadia Gomes was named West Coast Conference Player of the Week Tuesday for her two goals in 14 seconds against LMU.
Gomes' two goals in the first three minutes of the second half were the only goals of the game Saturday, Oct. 31, and gave the Cougars a 2-0 win against LMU. The first goal was scored off a through ball from Paige Hunt and no one, including Gomes, was expecting the subsequent second goal.
'I just got the ball and I turned and shot it,' Gomes said. 'I don't know exactly if it hit off a defender, but I know the goalie skimmed it kind off and then it went in. And the second one, Jocelyn came down the line and passed it through and I just took it out of the goalies hands and scored.'
Gomes, a sophomore, played in all 21 games for the Cougars last season. She totaled three goals and three assists last year, before breaking out this season. Her goals on Saturday night doubled her record last year and marked her sixth and seventh goals this season.
Gomes started every game for the Cougars this year and played an average of 71 minutes per game, playing the whole 90 minutes or more in five of the 18 matches. Gomes also had three assists this season and is known for her quickness and dangerous touch up front.
'Nadia is just so quick and she's got a quick trigger. Her first goal that she scored she was able to pull her hips around and just shoot it at a tough angle,' head coach Jennifer Rockwood said. 'She's been dangerous all year and she hasn't scored in a few games, but obviously we needed it tonight and she came through. Those are big goals for us.'
The Cougars are gearing up for their last WCC season game which will determine their standing going into NCAA tournament play, but after seeing so much success and improvement on the field Gomes isn't worried.
'I think we have that energy for the next games,' Gomes said after the win against LMU. 'We'll just play our game and just win.'
The Cougars play Saint Mary's next at South Field on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 5 p.m.