DENVER - Boise State forward Shannon Saxton and Hawai’i defender Tehane Higa have been named the Western Athletic Conference Soccer Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for the week of Sept. 10.
Saxton, a freshman forward from Beaverton, Ore. (Beaverton), led Boise State in a record-shattering performance, tallying nine points for the Broncos to help BSU defeat Southern Utah, 9-0, in the final match of the Governor’s Cup in Pocatello. She scored four goals and registered one assist, setting seven new school single-match records and tying one additional record in the victory over the Thunderbirds. Saxton’s new individual records include: most points by an individual (9), most points in a half (7), and most goals in a half (3), while tying the record for most goals (4) in a match. All four of those records are also new freshman records. In addition, she recorded the first-ever hat trick by a freshman in Boise State program history, and the first since Sept. 17, 2000. Saxton’s role in the 9-0 route over Southern Utah also helped snap a two-game losing streak for the Broncos.
Higa, a junior defender and native of Aiea, O`ahu (Aiea), anchored the Rainbow Wahine defense and led Hawai’i to the both the OHANA Hotels No Ka Oi and Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Soccer Classic tournament titles. She was named MVP of the Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Soccer Classic after UH tied Pacific 2-2 in double overtime and blanked Tennessee-Martin, 3-0. Higa was the commander of the defense that did not allow a single shot in the first half and only one shot on goal for the entire match against Tennessee-Martin. She also was a threat on the offensive side of the ball, scoring her second goal of the season in the tournament nightcap.
Other offensive nominees included: Ambree Ako of Hawai’i tallied six points on three goals in three matches and was named MVP of the Outrigger Hotels Soccer Classic ... Jennifer Hull of Idaho scored both of the Vandals goals in their 2-0 victory over Southern Utah ... Kiva Gresham of Louisiana Tech scored the Lady Techsters first goal of the season at Southeastern Louisiana ... Dana Peart of Utah State produced the most scoring chances for the Aggies with six shots, three being on goal.
Other defensive nominees included: Jennifer Burns of Boise State recorded a 9-0 shutout over Southern Utah and set two individual school match records for goalkeepers for most points (2) and most assists (2)... Anna Sandman of Idaho registered her second-straight shutout, tallying 16 saves on the weekend ... Lisa Willardson of Utah State slated three saves in the 0-1 double overtime loss against Northern Arizona.
- WAC -