IRVINE, Calif. –Hawai'i Pacific University midfielder Kayli Ann Yoshioka was named the PacWest Conference Women's Soccer Defender of the Week for her outstanding play over the last week.
 
A 5-1 junior from Honolulu/Kaiser, Yoshioka helped the Sharks record a shutout victory against Chaminade on Sunday and assisted the game-winning goal to lead HPU to its first PacWest win of the season.
 
Yoshioka was inserted back into the starting lineup for Sunday's match and she played an important part in the Sharks earning a shutout. The lone goal in the 1-0 victory came in the 79th minute and was assisted by Yoshioka. She got the ball in the left corner and kicked it to Caylie Uyema, who only had to get passed the goalkeeper for the game-winning goal. The win snaps a six-match skid for the Sharks and it was their first win since beating Tusculum in the season opener in August. For Yoshioka, the assist was her first point of the season. She took two shots in the match and one of them was on goal. Going into the match, she had only taken one shot with her contributions coming primarily on the defensive side of the pitch.
 
Joining Yoshioka with weekly honors are Hawai'i Hilo's Daelenn Tokunaga as PacWest Women's Player of the Week.
 
The Sharks hit the pitch again on Saturday evening when they host Concordia Irvine in PacWest Conference play. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.