COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The No. 8 nationally ranked University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's soccer team's junior defender Malia Groshong earned Week 3 RMAC Player of the Week honors on Tuesday, as she was named the Defensive Player of the Week.

For the first time this season and third time in her collegiate career, Groshong earns Defensive Player of the Week the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference announced this morning, as she contributed to shutouts of California State Polytechnic University Humboldt and Chico State.

In week three of the 2026 campaign, the Mountain Lions allowed no goals thanks to Groshong and the UCCS defense's outstanding play. The first match of the week ended in a scoreless draw against CPH where Groshong competed for the full 90 minutes of action for the fifth time this season. Led by Groshong, the Mountain Lion defense stifled the Lumberjacks, allowing just six shots with only two of them being on goal. Despite the offense's struggles, Groshong was a big part of preventing the team's second loss of the year.

The Mountain Lions' defense did not stop performing after Thursday, as it went on to shut out Chico State on Sunday with Groshong once again playing the full 90 minutes. Much like Thursday's match, the Wildcats were held to 10 total shots with just three landing on goal to help provide some relief to freshman goalkeeper Lucy Kapranos. The Mountain Lions went on to earn a 2-0 victory propelled by another excellent performance by Groshong and the defense.
  
Groshong and the Mountain Lions will stay on the road this week as they open RMAC play against Fort Lewis College on Thursday, Sept. 17 in Durango, Colo. before heading to Gunnison, Colo. on Sunday, Sept. 20 to take on Western Colorado University.

2026 RMAC Women's Soccer Athletes of the Week
Week 1 (Sept. 1): Abby Stassi – RMAC Offensive Player of the Week
Week 1 (Sept. 1): Lucy Kapranos- RMAC Goalkeeper of the Week
Week 3 (Sept. 15):  Malia Groshong – RMAC Defensive Player of the Week
 
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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs competes in 14 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.