Leilani Baker Named Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – New Mexico redshirt senior forward Leilani Baker was named Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week, conference officials announced Monday. Baker was instrumental in a pair of home wins for the Lobos last week against UNLV and Nevada.

In Thursday’s 1-0 victory over UNLV, Baker scored the game’s lone goal in the 47th minute, as she knocked in a cross from Sophia Roberts. On Sunday, Baker scored the opening goal of the game in the Lobos’ 4-0 win over Nevada, capitalizing on a loose ball in the box after a free kick in the 24th minute. The two game-winning goals this week give her a team-high three this season, all coming in conference play.

Baker is second on the team with six goals this season. She leads the Mountain West with four goals in conference play this season.

The honor is the second of Baker’s career, as she was also named Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year once during her junior season in 2019. It is the first weekly honor for a Lobo this season.

New Mexico (6-3-6, 4-1-3) will travel to Boise State on Thursday and Utah State on Sunday this week before concluding the regular season on Oct. 27 by hosting San Diego State.