MIAC Release
 
After a four-goal opening weekend, senior soccer player Christina Paik (Beaverton, Ore.) has earned the first Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Women's Soccer Athlete of the Week honors for the 2012 season, the conference office announced Tuesday.
 
Having finished just 1-17 last season, a young and energized St. Catherine University soccer team was out to prove that 2012 would be different. The Wildcats kicked off their 2012 campaign in a huge way with two wins, including a 2-1 overtime thriller against Jamestown College thanks largely in part to Paik.
 
In the weekend's first matchup against UW-Superior, Paik started the Wildcat scoring surge by netting the team's first goal of the season just 39 seconds into the game. She finished off the Yellowjackets by scoring her second goal of the game to help the Wildcats seal the victory 7-1.
 
On Saturday, Paik continued to lead the St. Kate's offensive strike as she scored the first goal against Jamestown early in the game. After dominating play for most of the game, the Jimmies managed to score with just over a minute remaining in regulation to force overtime play. With just over three minutes to play in the second overtime period, Paik took a pass from teammate Ellen Kokes () and beat the Jamestown goalkeeper one-on-one to end the game and seal St. Kate's second victory of the season.
 
After the first weekend of play, Paik leads the MIAC in goals (4) and points (8). She is the first St. Kate's soccer player to earn the MIAC honor since 2009.
 
Paik and Wildcats hope to extend their winning streak this week as they travel to Pella, Iowa, to take on Central College at 5 p.m., Wednesday.
 
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