Any time head coach Mauricio Ingrassia has called upon a player to score or set a fellow teammate up for a goal, Long Beach State women’s soccer star Nadia Link has never shied away from a challenge.
She has usually been successful at those things, too, and on Monday, the Big West Conference named her Offensive Player of the Week after she played a role in five of the 49ers’ six goals in a pair of victories last weekend.
The award marked the first weekly conference honor for Link this season and second of her career.
“Any time she’s on the field, she gives us a chance to win,” LBSU head coach Mauricio Ingrassia said.
The junior forward scored twice last Friday, including what would be the game-winner less than five minutes into the second half in a 3-1 victory over Princeton.
She then capped off an impressive weekend Sunday and tallied two goals and an assist in a 3-0 rout of Hawaii. Link fired off a career-high six shot attempts, with four on frame, against the Rainbow Wahine.
“That’s the point of the forward [position],” Link said. “It’s to score. Every game I try to score at least one goal.”
She has done just that. Through six games this season, she has tallied a Big West- leading six goals and 15 points — two away from matching her season totals from last year.
The Rowland Heights, Calif. native is also tied with former player Kristen Kiefer for ninth in school history with 14 career goals.
With at least 13 games left to play in the season, her six goals has put her on pace to break the school’s single-season goals mark of 16, set by Annette Fernandez in 1984.
Link attributed her success to her fitness level and offseason training while participating in various summer leagues. She has also set several team record times in fitness testing during the first day of LBSU’s training camp prior to the start of the season.
“I think it all has to do with how good of shape I’m in,” said Link, who gave birth to her daughter just two years ago. “Right now, I’m back in the shape that I am supposed to be. It feels really great to be back.”
On the weekend, Link led LBSU in goals (4), points (9), shots (9) and shots on goal (6).
She has also found the back of the net in the last four matches and has recorded at least one point in the last five.
Long Beach (4-2-0) will return to action Friday when it plays host to the University of California-Berkeley (5-1-0) at George Allen Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
Long Beach State’s All-Time Scoring Leaders
Player Years Active Goals
1. Janet Fettig (1984-86)………………………..33
2. Kim Silos (2005-08)…………………………..32
3. Annette Fernandez (1984-86)……………….29
4. Hayley Bolt (2005-08)………………………..28
5. Lindsay Bullock (2007-10)…………………..26
6. Allison Wiegand (2001-04)…………………..18
7. Abie Curry (2000-03)…………………………16
8. Toni Wolff (1984-86)………………………….15
9. Nadia Link (2009-Present)……………………14
9. Kristen Kiefer (2007-2009)……………………14
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