After figuring in all four goals in a 4-1 victory over St. Bonaventure, women’s soccer player Liz Dyjak has been named The Northeastern News Player of the Week.
The Huskies trailed the game 1-0 until Dyjak converted a penalty kick after fellow captain Jen North was fouled in front of the net.
Dyjak potted the game-winner 20 minutes later when she redirected a cross from Emma Enstrom. She then went on to feed redshirt freshman Kristin Kowalik for a pair of goals to seal the victory.
“We moved Jen up to striker [from her regular position at defensive midfield],” said Huskies coach Ed Matz. “She’s just a hard-nosed player who reads the game very well.”
The two goals against the Bonnies brings Dyjak’s season total to three, which matches her season’s output from last year. She was also the second Husky to be named America East Player of the Week, with North taking the honors last week.
“Liz has always been an outstandingly skilled athlete with great motivation” Matz said. “Since being named captain by the team this year, her leadership skills have shown on the field with her work ethic.”
North echoed her coach’s sentiments about Dyjak’s role as a captain.
“She’s a great leader who knows how to get the team psyched up for a game,” North said. “She gets along with the entire team, and is definitely a team leader on and off the field.”
“Liz is one of the best players I’ve ever played with,” added North. “She plays with great vision on the field, she always plays with her head up and never makes a bad pass.”
A little more than a year ago Dyjak was named America East Player of the Week after netting a pair of game-winning goals in crucial games for NU.
Two years ago she took home America East Rookie of the Week honors after putting together a goal and three assists in a three game stretch. As both a freshman and a sophomore, Dyjak started every game for the Huskies.
Dyjak also put together quite a high school career at Ludlow High School in Western Massachusetts. She was named All-American as both a junior and a senior in high school. In her junior year, her squad won the Western Massachusetts Championship. As a senior she captained the team to a state championship title. Ludlow finished the season ranking number three in the country.
Speaking of her six point performance, Dyjak deferred to her teammates.
“I was trying to anticipate where the ball was going to end up, I just happened to be at the right spot at the right time,” she said. “I think we have a really talented team, we just need to start finishing balls. Altogether I think we should be at the top of our conference.”
– Peter Conroy
