DENVER – Seattle U’s Stephanie Verdoia and Monique Escalera have been named Western Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for the week of Sept. 23-29.
Verdoia, a junior forward from Salt Lake City, Utah (Brighton HS), scored the game-winning goals in a pair of victories over Kansas City and New Mexico State. She had her first two-assist game of the year in a 3-0 win over Kansas City. In the 3-0 win over NM State, Verdoia recorded her first two-goal game of the season and tallied a season-high eight shots against the Aggies. Over the two games, Verdoia tallied 13 shots, five shots on goal, three goals, three assists, and nine points.
Escalera, a senior defender from Riverside, Calif. (La Sierra HS), anchored the Seattle U defense to a pair of 3-0 shutout victories over Kansas City and New Mexico State. Escalera led a Redhawk backline that allowed only six shots and one shot on goal over its two matches last week.
Other offensive nominees included: Grand Canyon senior forward Samantha Bush … Idaho senior defender Nitalia Zuniga … Kansas City senior forward Taylor Bare … Utah Valley senior forward Natalie Baker.
Other defensive nominees included: Grand Canyon senior midfielder Cierra Valdez … Kansas City sophomore defender Erika Teson.