COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference announced its weekly award winners for women's soccer Tuesday afternoon after a dazzling debut weekend on the pitch, Colorado School of Mines defender Natalie Rouse has been named the recipient of the first Defensive Player of the Week Award of the season.
 
The award is the first for the redshirt sophomore who is in her first season at Mines after spending two seasons at UNLV to begin her college career. Rouse scored a pair of goals on opening weekend, finding the net in each game against San Francisco State and Chico State.
 
Against the Gators on Friday night, she teamed up with Ava Harman on a free kick from about 30 yards out on the far side of the field in the 86th minute and finished off the pass into the box with a header for her first collegiate goal to make it a 4-0 game. Sunday against the Wildcats, Rouse teamed up with Harman once more on a free kick, this time from 40 yards out on the near side of the field as she finished off the pass with another header for what ended up being the game-winner in the 29th minute.
 
The Carlsbad, California native also started and played all 180 minutes for the weekend at center back, helping lead a defense that posted two shutouts and held the opposition just 13 total shots with just two on goal.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines women's soccer on Twitter and Instagram at @mineswsoc. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.
 
Week 1 RMAC Players of the Week
 
Offensive: Sarah Wynn, Regis
Defensive: Natalie Rouse, Mines
Goalkeeper: Keely Wieczorek, Colorado Mesa
Honorable Mention: Karlee Caballero, Adams State; Jayda Hammer, Black Hills State; Abby Fotheringham, Colorado Mesa; Bella Campos, Mines; Cortney Cowels, CSU Pueblo; Tessa Killmon, MSU Denver; Ciara Garcia, UCCS; Cassidy Orr, Westminster; Lauren Ocampo, Adams State; Allie Brown, Black Hills State; Kaydree Rapp, Colorado Mesa; Jerzie Troost, CSU Pueblo; Amber Otts, Fort Lewis; Emily Sirois, MSU Denver; Jade Kinsey, UCCS; Makayla Dannelly, Black Hills State; Sadie Wolf, Mines; Nicole Genis, CSU Pueblo; Kylie Bach, MSU Denver; Isabella Whitmore, UCCS; Mei Hayashizaki, Western Colorado