DENVER--New Mexico State’s Yolanda McMillion and Utah State’s Molli Merrill have been named Western Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for the week of Aug. 23-29.
McMillion, a sophomore forward from Alamogordo, N.M. (Alamogordo HS), led New Mexico State to the Hotel Encanto Aggie Classic title with the first hat trick in school history. McMillion scored three goals in NM State’s 8-0 victory against Prairie View A&M on Sunday. She also scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Jacksonville State on Friday. For the week, McMillion posted a team-high four goals, two game-winning goals, and eight points with a .714 shots on goal percentage. She also became the first Aggie in school history to score multiple goals in a single match this past week.
Merrill, a junior goalkeeper from Bountiful, Utah (Bountiful HS), registered her second-straight shutout as the Aggies tied Idaho State, 0-0, in double overtime in Pocatello on Sunday. Merrill had two saves in 110 minutes of action, facing 13 shots, including seven in the first half. It marks the first time in her USU career that she has had back-to-back shutouts. She has now gone 202 minutes without allowing a goal.
Other offensive nominees included: Boise State freshman midfielder Tylyn Hughes … Fresno State senior midfielder Bradlee DeShane … Idaho sophomore midfielder Jill Flockhart … Louisiana Tech junior forward/defender Olivia Lukasewich … Nevada freshman midfielder Aleina Dominguez … San Jose State freshman midfielder Megan Molina.
Other defensive nominees included: Boise State junior goalkeeper Liz Ruiz … Fresno State senior defender Katie Lee … Idaho junior goalkeeper Liz Boyden … New Mexico State freshman goalkeeper Erin Wosick.