By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – A bit of déjà vu for Yao Giada Zhou, as the senior midfielder once again was named the OVC Offensive Player of the Week after helping guide the Tennessee Tech soccer team to a 3-1 victory over Eastern Illinois in Sunday's conference affair.
Giada Zhou takes home the accolade for the second-consecutive week after being recognized as the league's Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 26 following a school-record tying seven points in a 7-0 victory over Southern Indiana. The honor is also the fourth weekly award for the Golden Eagles this season, with Selma Askildsen securing a Co-Defensive Player of the Week distinction on Sept. 26 and Maggie Conrad picking up a Co-Goalkeeper of the Week accolade on Sept. 12.
Giada Zhou's second career weekly honor comes on the heels of a three-point showing in Sunday's triumph over Eastern Illinois. The San Michele al Tagliamento, Italy native first unwrapped the scoring with a goal in the ninth minute off of a free kick from the edge of the box, before Giada Zhou assisted on Meredith Nye's goal in the 58th minute to put Tech ahead 2-0. The senior midfielder would finish with five shots to tie for the second most in the contest.
Overall, Giada Zhou's four goals are tied with fellow Golden Eagles Neve Renwick and Bailey Taylor as well as Morehead State's Colleen Swift and Little Rock's Karina De Paoli for the most in the OVC. The senior midfielder's 12 points thanks to four assists as well are knotted with Taylor for the highest total in the league.
Tech's triumph over Eastern Illinois kept the Golden Eagles unbeaten and in first place in the conference behind a 3-0-0 league ledger. TTU has gone unbeaten in five straight matches, outscoring its opponents 18-4 over the surge.
Giada Zhou and the rest of the purple and gold will square off with SIUE on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 5 p.m. CT in the first of two matches during the week. The Golden Eagles will return home to entertain Western Illinois on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT. Admission to Sunday's match at Tech Soccer Field is free of charge.
Photos by Jim Dillon
