DENVER — Air Force’s Zachary Modly and San Jose State’s Emmanuel Espinosa have been named the Western Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for October 7-13.
Modley, a junior forward from Annapolis, Md. (USAFA Prep School), scored two goals and added an assist in two matches as the Falcons posted a 1-0-1 record in their first two games of conference play. On Friday, Modly assisted on the second of two goals in a 2-2 tie against UMKC. On Sunday, he scored twice as the Falcons defeated Houston Baptist, 3-2, for their first victory of the season. Modly scored on a penalty kick in the 12th minute and then added the game-winner in the 76th minute for his team-leading third goal of the season.
Espinosa, a sophomore goalkeeper from San Jose, Calif. (Evergreen Valley HS), played in just one match for San Jose State last week. He faced 12 Rebel shots, four of which were on frame, turning them all away to earn his second clean sheet of the year and preserve a 1-0 win for the Spartans. It was San Jose State’s first victory of the season.
Other offensive nominees included: junior midfielder Joe Masumiya, Bakersfield; freshman forward Jose Rodriguez, Grand Canyon; senior forward Kristopher Tyrpak, Houston Baptist; junior forward Jordan Rideout, Kansas City; freshman forward Rory Knibbs, San Jose State; and senior forward Miguel Gonzalez, Seattle U.
Defensive nominees included: senior defender Caleb Downey, Air Force; junior goalkeeper Joshua Zehring, Grand Canyon; junior goalkeeper Chris McGaughey, Kansas City; and senior goalkeeper Jake Feener, Seattle U.
-WAC-