DENVER – Idaho’s Chelsea Small and Utah State’s Molli Merrill have been named Verizon Western Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for the week of Sept. 27 – Oct. 3.
Small, a sophomore forward from Solana Beach, Calif. (Torrey Pines), scored four goals in leading Idaho to a 2-0 record over the weekend. In addition to scoring four total goals, Small also had the game-winners in both matches. Small scored two goals on eight total shots (two on goal) in a 3-2 victory over Portland State on Tuesday, and then added another multi-goal game on Sunday in a 3-1 win at Hawai‘i on four total shots (two on goal). With her game-winning goal on Sunday, Small helped the Vandals defeat UH for the first time in team history. She also broke the Idaho school record for single season game-winners and tied the career record (6) in the same category. Small’s five game-winners leads the WAC this season.
Merrill, a junior goalkeeper from Bountiful, Utah (Bountiful HS), doubled her shutout total this season with a pair of road shutouts against WAC opponents. Against Louisiana Tech, Merrill had one save to earn her third shutout of the season as the Aggies defeated the Lady Techsters 1-0. In Utah State’s 3-0 victory at New Mexico State, Merrill registered four saves. For the second time in six seasons, the Aggies now begin WAC play with a 2-0-0 record. The pair of shutouts also snapped a two-match losing streak for USU.
Other offensive nominees included: Boise State senior forward Shannon Saxton … Fresno State senior forward Nicole Duff … Louisiana Tech senior forward Kiva Gresham … San Jose State freshman midfielder Kayla Santacruz … Utah State junior forward Shantel Flanary.
Other defensive nominees included: Boise State junior goalkeeper Liz Ruiz … Fresno State freshman defender Lauren Lindstrom … Idaho junior goalkeeper Liz Boyden … Louisiana Tech freshman goalkeeper Kaitlin Updyke.