Larsen Garners Big 12’s Offensive Player of the Week Award - kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and Killeen

IRVING, Texas – Baylor soccer forward Dana Larsen earned the Big 12's Offensive Player of the Week award for her play in BU's two victories over the weekend vs. Texas and Iowa State, the league office announced Tuesday.

In Friday's 2-1 double overtime victory against the Longhorns, Larsen contributed on both of Baylor's goals.

The senior notched her team-leading ninth score of the season in the 80th-minute as she fired in a shot from 28-yards out that landed at the feet of Texas goalkeeper Abby Smith and then bounced over the freshman as she went for the save. With the goal, Larsen moved into sole possession of fourth place on the all-time Baylor scoring list with 27 goals.

In the 105th-minute, Larsen earned her team-best fifth assist on BU's game-winning goal. The goal came on the seventh corner kick of the match for Baylor. Larsen sent the set-piece offering into the middle of the six-yard box, but it was deflected back out to her and she recorded the assist by sending the ball right back to the top of the box. Alexa Wilde did the rest, rising above a group of Longhorn defenders to redirect the ball inside the near post.

The senior's work on Friday earned BU its second straight win over Texas. It is the first time Baylor has beaten the Longhorns in back-to-back games since the 1997 and 1998 seasons.

In Sunday's 1-0 win over Iowa State, Larsen had three shots on goal, in  58 minutes played.

Baylor is unbeaten in its last 14 games and Larsen leads the way with nine goals, five assists and 23 points this season. In the Big 12, she is fourth in shots and points, third in assists and sixth in goals scored.  

With the victories, Baylor improved to 13-1-4 overall and 4-0-3 in Big 12 play. BU also upped its record in home matches to 8-0.

For Larsen, it is the second time she has been honored by the Big 12, after being named Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 18, 2011. That is also the last time a BU player won the league's offensive award.

The native of Mequon, Wis., joins teammates Kat Ludlow, who won the Defensive Player of the Week award on Sept. 4, and Bri Campos, who claimed the Newcomer of the Week honor on Oct. 9, as Bears to be recognized by the Big 12 this season. It is the first time ever that Baylor has won all three of the league's awards in the same season.

In the 16-year history of the Big 12, BU has won 27 individual soccer weekly honors. 

The 15^th-ranked Bears, who lead the Big 12 in shots, points, goals, goals allowed and assists, will be back in action on Friday at 7 p.m. when they host Big 12 newcomer TCU in the final game of the regular season for both teams.