SAN DIEGO – USD freshman forward Amanda Anders was named the season's first West Coast Conference Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week on Monday following a two-goal performance in her collegiate debut.
 
The award comes after Anders scored a brace off the bench in a season-opening 3-3 draw with Cal Poly on Thursday, Aug. 14. She powered home not only San Diego's first goal of the season seven minutes after being subbed on, but also the game-tying goal with just eight minutes remaining.
 
"Fantastic performance," second-year head coach Greg LaPorte said of Anders after Thursday's match. "I'm not going to lie and say I'm surprised because that's who she is, she's a fierce competitor."
 
The San Marcos, Calif. native became the first Torero freshman in 12 years to score a brace in their collegiate debut since Michaela Dooley and current USD Assistant Coach Jackie Altschuld both did so in a win on Aug. 23, 2013. No San Diego player or freshman has scored a brace since Sara Evans on Oct. 15, 2021 as it was also USD's best season-opening team point in four years.
 
Anders' mother, Sherice (Bartling) Anders, who also played for the Toreros and eventually in the WUSA for the Boston Breakers, was in attendance for her daughter's historic debut on the grounds where she once starred.
 
The freshman is the first Torero to win a WCC Player of the Week honor since teammate Aliya Garrett took home defensive player of the week after the 2024 season-finale draw against No. 11 Santa Clara. Anders is the first ever Torero to win WCC Offensive Player of the Week since the award was split into offensive and defensive awards after the 2019 season.