Bri Visalli Named WCC Player of the Week
10/16/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
MALIBU, Calif. - Pepperdine senior midfielder Bri Visalli took home West Coast Conference Player of the Week honors after leading the No. 17-ranked Waves to a 4-0 win over Gonzaga this past week to keep the team unbeaten in conference play.
Visalli had a hand in each of the four scores the Waves tallied, posting three goals and an assist in the contest. It was her first hat trick of the season and third multi-goal game this year. The seven total points posted by Visalli are a season high for any Wave this year.
Pepperdine's senior captain assisted on the Waves' opening goal when she sent a shot off the crossbar that fell directly to teammate Brie Welch for the score. Visalli then finished a cross deep in the box just over 10 minutes later to put Pepperdine up 2-0 before the half. She would net a penalty kick and finish a long ball played forward in the second half to put the Zags away.
The hat trick gave Visalli 10 goals on the year, good for the conference and team lead, and her assist gave her three helpers on the season, which is tied for the team lead. Visalli also moved into a tie for eighth on Pepperdine's all-time scorers list, with 21 career goals.
Visalli is the second Wave to earn the WCC weekly award this season, with goalkeeper Brielle Preece taking home the honor last month. Pepperdine has been on a roll as of late, thanks in large part to the scoring prowess of Visalli and the defense anchored by Preece, with the team currently on a seven-game unbeaten streak and 4-0 to start WCC play. The Waves have not allowed a goal in five games, and have outscored opponents 11-0 to start conference action.
Pepperdine is on the road this week, heading to BYU on Thursday and then San Diego on Saturday for a pair of tough WCC matchups.
