Last week, after scoring twice for the Utes against San Diego and once against Utah State, sophomore forward/defender Hailey Skolmoski was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week by the league offices in San Francisco.
“This blew me away,” Skolmoski said. “There are so many amazing offensive players who have been named [Player of the Week] before me and being named was an honor. I’m really thankful.”
For Skolmoski, this is her first time being honored with the title, and she is the first Ute to be named Offensive Player of the Week in Utah soccer history. Skolmoski’s honor is also Utah’s 10th Pac-12 weekly honor since Utah joined the conference.
“To be the first from Utah to be named, that was super cool,” Skolmoski said.
After being honored with the weekly title, head coach Rich Manning said he is proud of Skolmoski, especially after coming back from a torn left ACL in the first half of the 2015 season.
“[Skolmoski] has come a long way back from her injury, and it was kind of a moment to celebrate, but we have a lot more work to do,” Manning said. “We’ve moved on, but it was a nice moment for all of us to kind of celebrate how hard she has worked to come back from her injury.”
To add to her recent accomplishments, Skolmoski has scored four goals in four games so far this season, and this also marks the most by a Utah player since the 2013 season.
“I think [my season] is going really well,” Skolmoski said. “We have had a lot of positives, and we are going in the right direction. It is just finding those little pieces to fit together will help us.”
Because of the pressure she kept on the net this season, Skolmoski and her team are leading the Pac-12 with 10 goals so far this season. Again, that marks the highest total to start a season since the Utes scored 12 goals in 2009 (4-0-0).
As the Utes continue on in their season, Skolmoski said that whatever happens, happens as far as what she hopes to accomplish. However, she feels that the most important thing for her is the team’s success and that they make it to the tournament this year.
Though Skolmoski is more focused on her team, Manning added that Skolmoski is doing great this season, but he expects to see more from her as the season progresses.
“She is doing great,” Manning said. “But she is just getting started.”
Up next for Skolmoski and her team, the Utes will head to Purdue, Ind. to compete against Purdue this Friday, Sept. 9. Kickoff is at 5:00 p.m.
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