DENVER ? Louisiana Tech freshman Scotti Culton and Hawai?i senior Kori Lu were named Offensive and Defensive Western Athletic Conference Players of the Week, respectively.
Culton, a freshman midfielder from Waterloo, Ill. (Waterloo HS), registered three goals in just 157 minutes on the weekend. The freshman notched her first goal of the week against Grambling State (Sept. 16) in a 3-2 double-overtime loss. She then helped the Lady Techsters rebound to a 5-1 victory over Alabama A&M when she recorded two goals in the match. Her two goals were just 19 minutes apart that gave the Lady Techsters an early commanding lead. The three goals and six points were the first of the season for Culton. She started all three games on the week. She also played an instrumental role in Tech’s 1-0 win over Troy to capture the Troy Trojans Classic, the program’s first-ever 11-on-11 tournament title.
Lu, a senior goalkeeper from San Clemente, Calif. (Santa Margarita HS), recorded seven saves in a 2-1 victory over No. 23 UC Santa Barbara, the highest ranked opponent UH has beaten in school history. Lu shutout Montana in a 0-0 tie in the first game of the Outriggers Hotels and Resorts Soccer Classic after she made five saves in the match. She totaled 12 saves and allowed just one goal on the weekend as the Rainbow Wahine captured the tournament title in Honolulu. The senior is the school’s all-time leader in wins by a goalkeeper, minutes played in goal, matches played and started, as well as solo shutouts.
Other offensive nominees included: Chelsea Deptula of Hawai?i scored the game-winning overtime goal against No. 23 UC Santa Barbara (2-1, OT) in the 98th minute, marking the biggest win in the program’s history. Fresno State’s Ali Sill notched two goals on the weekend in the Colorado Classic (Boulder, Colo.), she scored the first of two goals in a 3-2 overtime loss to Denver and then registered the Bulldogs’ lone goal against Colorado (1-4). San Jose State freshman Shanelle Furner registered a goal in the 80th minute in a 2-1 loss to San Francisco. Lauren Hansen of Utah State scored a goal on her only shot of the weekend in a 2-0 victory over University of Texas-San Antonio, she is now tied for fifth all-time in USU history with 29 points. Boise State’s Randi Baker helped the Broncos to the co-championship of the Mountain Classic in Flagstaff, Ariz. after she recorded four points on two goals including the game-winning goal against Virginia Military Institute.
Other defensive nominees included: Fresno State’s Allison Ventura organized the backline all weekend as well as having two shots on goal, she also made a goal-saving clear. Nina Butera of San Jose State made her first start of the year a good one as she shutout Miami (OH) University in double-overtime while making six saves. Utah State’s Ali Griffin made three saves in two games on the weekend including a shutout victory against UTSA (2-0). Louisiana Tech’s Amy Wolsted earned all-tournament honors in the Troy Trojans Classic as the Lady Techsters went on to take the title, she played 243 minutes in three games while recording a goal as well as holding the nations leading goal scorer, Jill Pinder (Troy), to zero goals. Liz Ruiz of Boise State continued her strong play in goal as she made six saves in a 3-0 shutout victory over Louisiana-Monroe.