COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 5 Texas A&M Aggies claimed two of the three weekly awards bestowed by the Southeastern Conference following the opening weekend of action. Haley Pounds was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week and Kate Hajdu was tabbed the SEC Freshman of the Week.
The two were recognized following a weekend in which they tallied a 4-2 win at Rice and a 3-0 victory against Northwestern State in the home opener.
Pounds, a sophomore midfielder from Sprinng, Texas, played a part in five consecutive goals for the Aggies, including the last three goals of a 4-2 win at Rice and the first two goals of a 3-0 victory over Northwestern State. Pounds became the 11th Aggie in school history to log three assists in a game as she served up three perfect corner kicks in a span of 10:35 to erase a 2-1 deficit at Rice. On Sunday, she needed less than nine minutes to notch a goal and an assist against Northwestern State.
Hajdu, a freshman midfielder from Dallas, Texas, became just the fourth Aggie freshman to notch two goals in a season opener as she scored a pair of equalizers at Rice. On Sunday, Hajdu assisted Janae Cousineau in the 30th minute to give A&M a 3-0 advantage over Northwestern State.
It marks the second time two Aggies have garnered SEC weekly awards the same week. On September 21, 2014, Shea Groom and Karlie Mueller were named the Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, following a 3-0 win against Tennessee.
Pounds is the fifth A&M player to pick up SEC Offensive Player of the Week accolades, joining Allie Bailey, Groom, Annie Kunz and Kelley Monogue who all earned the award on one occasion. Hajdu is only the second Aggie to earn SEC Freshman of the Week recognition, joining Liz Keester who earned the status in 2013.
Texas A&M returns to action on Friday as the Aggies host the UC Irvine Anteaters in a 7 pm contest at Ellis Field.
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics