TURLOCK, Calif.--- Stan State senior Kayla Perez has been named the FloCollege/CCAA Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week after helping the Warriors secure their seventh straight conference tournament berth with a 4-1 road victory over Fresno Pacific on Thursday, Oct. 29, at Ramirez Field in Fresno. Perez becomes the third Stan State player to earn a conference weekly honor this season, with the Warriors receiving four awards overall.

Perez played all 90 minutes for Stan State, helping the Warrior defense limit Fresno Pacific to just five shots, including three on goal, and one corner kick. The Sunbirds managed only two shots in the first half and three in the second as Stan State controlled much of the match.

The Merced native also contributed offensively, recording her first assist of the season on Olivia Maragos' goal in the 59th minute. The goal extended Stan State's lead to 3-1 after the Warriors had entered halftime tied 1-1. Stan State added another goal in the 87th minute to secure the 4-1 victory.

Perez's performance helped Stan State finish the regular season 8-5-4 overall and 7-4-2 in CCAA play with 23 points. The Warriors earned the No. 7 seed in the CCAA Tournament and enter postseason play riding a four-match unbeaten streak (2-0-2).

CCAA Weekly Honors
Perez joins goalkeeper Zara Mujica and forward Aliah Avila as Stan State's conference weekly award recipients this season. Mujica earned Defensive Player of the Week honors twice, for Aug. 31-Sept. 6 and Oct. 19-25, while Avila received Offensive Player of the Week honors for Sept. 21-27. The four weekly awards are the most for Stan State in a season since 2024, when Sabrina Cabrera, Makeila Yancey and Avila combined for three honors.

Since the CCAA began awarding separate offensive and defensive weekly honors in 2022, Stan State has had multiple recipients, including Alexis Brewah, Jocelyn Lopez and Alexia Estrada in 2022; Malia Allen and Brewah in 2023; Cabrera, Yancey and Avila in 2024; and Yancey in 2025.

Prior to the offensive and defensive award format, Stan State's weekly honorees included Karenee Demery, Jade Poon, Chelsea Lewandowski, Lisa Garcia, Sadie Ortiz, Selia Torres, Adrienne Sorenson and Maryanne Sayles. Demery earned multiple honors during her career, including three in 2012 and two in 2013, while Poon earned three in 2014 and two in 2017.

Up Next
Perez and seventh-seeded Stan State will face second-seeded Cal State LA in the first round of the 2026 CCAA Women's Soccer Championships presented by FloCollege this Sunday, Nov. 1, at noon at University Stadium in Los Angeles. The winner advances to the semifinals Thursday, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m. at Kellogg Stadium in Pomona.