Jayhawk Duo Collects Big 12 Weekly Honors

IRVING, Texas – Senior Kaitlyn Stroud and junior Liana Salazar were each recognized by the conference office Tuesday morning with the announcement of the Big 12 Player of the Week awards. Stroud was named the defensive player of the week for the third time in her career after tallying a pair of shutouts in goal for the Jayhawks last weekend. Salazar earned the league’s offensive player of the week award for the second time this season with the help of a goal and an assist in KU’s two road wins last week.
 
The announcement marked the fifth time in Big 12 history and the first time since 2009 that two or more Jayhawks were honored in the same week.
 
Stroud turned in a pair of shutouts and helped lift the Jayhawks to an undefeated weekend with road wins over Baylor and TCU. The senior tallied seven saves in KU’s 1-0 victory over the Bears Friday, five of which came in the first half. She then backed up that outing with another seven-save performance Sunday in a 2-0 win over the Horned Frogs. Stroud’s weekend work lowered her goals-against average to 0.36 and elevated her save percentage to .926. Both figures lead the Big 12 and rank among the top-10 in the NCAA. Stroud has notched six shutouts in her last seven outings and has allowed just one goal in her last 652 minutes between the posts for KU.
 
Salazar sparked the Kansas offensive attack with a goal and an assist in helping the Jayhawks to a perfect opening weekend of Big 12 play. The junior midfielder got Kansas’ weekend off to a good start when she headed in the eventual game-winner in the 19th minute against Baylor. The goal was her eighth of the year which tied her for the Big 12 lead. Salazar then aided in teammate Jaime Fletcher’s game-winner against TCU Sunday afternoon. Salazar connected with Fletcher in the seventh minute to help net the first of the Jayhawks’ two goals on the day. Salazar’s outing helped Kansas put an end to TCU’s six-game unbeaten streak and move to the top of the Big 12 table after the first weekend of action.
 
Stroud, Salazar and the rest of the Jayhawks will be back in action this Friday, Oct. 3 when they take on the Oklahoma State Cowgirls inside Rock Chalk Park. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., with all tickets on sale for $5.
 
 
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