MORAGA, Calif. — Saint Mary’s College of California redshirt junior goalkeeper Kate Plachy earned the women’s soccer department Student Athlete of the Week honor for the third time in her career following an eight-save performance against the Santa Clara Broncos on October 24, 2026. The Saint Mary’s Gaels and Santa Clara Broncos played to a 1-1 draw at Buck Shaw Field.
Plachy made seven saves in the second half despite the Gaels playing with ten players after an early red card. Her strong effort helped the Gaels secure their first point at Santa Clara since 2008.
Saint Mary’s defense leads the West Coast Conference with a 0.44 Goals-Against-Average and is tied for the NCAA Division I lead with 11 shutouts this season, underscoring the importance of Plachy’s contributions.
The Gaels will next play at the Pacific Tigers on October 29, 2026, at 6 p.m., then host the Seattle Redhawks on October 31, 2026, at 1 p.m. Both matches will be streamed live on ESPN+.
CSB Take
Kate Plachy’s third department Student Athlete of the Week award highlights her critical role in anchoring one of the nation’s top women’s soccer defenses. Her resilience and performance under pressure, especially while the team was short-handed, demonstrate the strength of the Saint Mary’s Gaels’ defensive unit. As the Gaels approach the closing portion of the season, Plachy’s consistency will be vital in their pursuit of postseason success within the competitive West Coast Conference.
Source: Original report
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