DENVER - Fresno State's Morgan Castain and Utah State's Molli Merrill have been named Verizon Western Athletic Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for the week of Aug. 29-Sept. 4.
Castain, a sophomore midfielder from Castro Valley, Calif. scored three goals in two games, good for for six points over the weekend. She is now tied for first on team in total points with nine. She scored both of Fresno State's goals against UC Santa Barbara on Firday and followed that up with the game-winning goal vs. Sacramento State on Sunday. Castain finished weekend with .600 on-goal shooting percentage.
Merrill, a senior goalkeeper from Bountiful, Utah, was stellar in Utah State's pair of 1-0 home wins against in-state rival Utah and former Big West foe Cal State Fullerton. The win against the Utes was the first in Logan since 1997. Against Utah, she recorded three saves in 90 minutes of time. In the double overtime win over the Titans, Merrill had a season-high 8 saves, including a game-saver in the first overtime. With the pair of shutouts, the senior lowered her goals against average to 0.49. Merrill and the Aggies improved to 6-0-0 with the pair of wins this season.
Other offensive nominees inluded: Utah State midfielder Kendra Pemberton ... New Mexico State midfielder Mary Kate Koziol ... Idaho forward Chelsea Small ... Louisiana Tech defender Olivia Lukasewich ... San Jose State forward Shanelle Furner ... Hawai'i forward Tiana Fujimoto.
Other defensive nominees inluded: Fresno State defender Lauren Lindstrom ... New Mexico State goalkeeper Erin Wosick ... Idaho defender Chelsie Breen ... Louisiana Tech goalkeeper Caitlin Updyke.