A day after Jovana Canales was named the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week for the second consecutive week, the NAIA announced she was selected as the NAIA Women’s Soccer National Defensive Player of the Week. It is the first time in her career she was named the National Defensive Player of the Week by the NAIA. It is also the first time a Bethany women’s soccer player has earned the player of the week award at the national level.
“This is very exciting for me to receive this award and news,” said Canales. “I hope to build on it as we continue through conference play, but I would not be able to do it without my back line.”
Canales played a big role in the Swedes 1-0-1 record a week ago. The junior goalkeeper from Brentwood, California, allowed just one goal against (RV) Kansas Wesleyan University in a 1-0-1 tie in Salina. She made 14 saves in that game, which was her second game in a row with double digit saves. Canales then made six more saves and logged a clean sheet against Sterling College.
For the week in 200 minutes of play she made 20 saves and allowed just one goal. She averaged 10 saves a game and just 0.5 goals against per game. In the last two weeks she has averaged 10.25 saves a game and 0.5 goals against per game. Canales has recorded two shutouts in the past three games, and three shutouts this season. Canales is allowing less than a goal a game this season and making saves on 89 percent of shots on goal.
Canales ranks 24th in the NAIA in Saves per Game, 7.88, in the top 35 nationally in Goals Against per Game, 0.920, and in Total Saves, 63.
“We are very proud of Jovana Canales for being the first Bethany women’s soccer player in program history to receive a NAIA National Player of the Week award,” said head coach John Markey. “She is an extraordinary goalkeeper and sure to be a historic player for our program here.”
