WAC WOMEN’S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
New Mexico State’s Jennae Cambra has been named Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week, while Grand Canyon’s Blakely Fraasch has been named Defensive Player of the Week for Oct. 6 through Oct. 12.
OFFENSIVE: Cambra, a senior from Morgan Hills, Calif. (Sobrato HS) led the Aggies to a weekend split with Missouri-Kansas City and Chicago State. Against UMKC, she scored the team’s only goal in a 2-1 loss. In Sunday’s 4-1 win over Chicago State, Cambra scored the first goal and assisted on the second to total five points for the weekend.
Other offensive nominees included: Texas-Pan American freshman forward Allyson Smith became the first Bronc in school history to record a multi-assist match while also scoring a goal as she led UTPA to a 3-0 win over Chicago State on Friday…Grand Canyon sophomore Maria Monterroso scored the game-winning goal with 2:14 remaining as the Lopes knocked off preseason favorite Seattle U, 1-0, on Friday night…Seattle U senior forward Taylor Ritzman scored the game-winning goal in a 5-1 win over Bakersfield on Sunday…Utah Valley senior midfielder Kim Stratford scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 win over Bakersfield on Friday night, also recording a shot on goal against Grand Canyon on Sunday.
DEFENSIVE: Fraash, a freshman goalkeeper from Prior Lake, Minn. (Prior Lake HS) earned a pair of shutouts on the road as Grand Canyon earned wins as Seattle U and Utah Valley. Fraash stopped all six shots she faces on Friday against Seattle U before picking up eight more saves against Utah Valley on Sunday. She currently sits second in the WAC in conference GAA at 0.67 in 269:12 played.
Other defensive nominees included: Texas-Pan American freshman goalkeeper Aubrie Coley made a career-high 17 saves in a double-overtime loss to Missouri-Kansas City on Sunday after helping lead the Broncs to a shared shutout on Friday against Chicago State…Seattle U junior defender Kelly Beck scored a goal to help lead the Redhawks to a 5-1 win over Bakersfield on Sunday…Utah Valley junior goalkeeper Jessica Duffin earned the win in a 2-1 victory over Bakersfield on Friday before making a pair of saves in a 2-0 loss to Grand Canyon on Sunday.
Bakersfield’s Hedda Regefalk records first hat trick of the season
Regefalk, a sophomore forward from Stockholm, Sweden (Blackebergs Gymnasium), recorded the first WAC hat trick for the 2014 women’s soccer season scoring three goals against Seattle U on Oct. 5. She became the seventh Bakersfield women’s soccer player to record a hat trick against Seattle U. Regefalk’s hat trick is the third for CSUB at the Division I level and 11th overall for a member of the Roadrunner program. She scored all four goals on the week for the Roadrunners in their games against Utah Valley and Seattle U.
WAC STAT LEADERS
As a team, Seattle U leads the WAC in points (6.15), goals (2.31), and corners (5.69). Missouri-Kansas City leads in assists (1.62), goals allowed (0.85), and goals against average (0.81). Texas-Pan American has the lead in shots (15.13) and shutouts (0.40) while Chicago State leads in saves (10.38).
Individually, Seattle U’s Stephanie Verdoia leads the WAC in shots (4.46), points (2.08), goals (0.85), assists (0.38) and game-winning goals (0.41). Missouri-Kansas City’s Elli Chadick is tied with Verdoia for the lead in assists (0.38) and Nina Tzianos continues to hold the WAC lead in goals against average (0.72) and save percentage (.889). Bakersfield’s Tori Orneala has the lead in saves (79) while Chicago State’s Carrie Hepp is tops in saves per game (7.30). Tzianos and Utah Valley’s Jessica Duffin are tied for the lead in shutouts per game (0.33).
RETURNING ALL-CONFERENCE PLAYERS
The WAC returns nine all-conference players from the 2013 season, led by Seattle U with four. The Redhawks return all-WAC first team honoree and 2014 WAC Offensive Player of the Year Stephanie Verdoia (Sr., F). Verdoia led the WAC in nearly ever offensive statistical category last season. She is the lone returning player from last year’s all-WAC first team. SU also returns 2014 all-WAC second team honorees Taylor Titzman (Sr., F), Natasha Howe (So., MF) and Brianna Smallidge (Jr., GK). Bakersfield and Missouri-Kansas City each return two players that received all-WAC second team honors last year. CSUB returns 2014 WAC Freshman of the Year and all-WAC second team honoree Hedda Regefalk (So., F). The ‘Runners also welcome 2014 all-WAC second team honoree Sarah Cook, (Sr., D). UMKC has a pair of second-team honorees returning from last season in Alyssa Elver (Sr., MF) and Kaely Tott (Sr., D). New Mexico State returns 2014 all-WAC second team honoree Jennae Cambra (Sr., F).
NCAA OPPONENTS
WAC teams play four matches against teams that played in the NCAA Tournament last year. Two of the matches will be played at WAC home sites. Seattle U will play two home games, while Utah Valley will play a road game against Utah.
Aug. 24 Kentucky at Seattle U
Aug, 24 UTPA at Jackson State
Sept. 21 Utah Valley at Utah
Sept. 25 Portland at Seattle U
CHICAGO STATE, UTPA IN FIRST SEASON IN LEAGUE
Chicago State and Texas-Pan American take to the pitch this season for the first time in school history. CSU head coach Tony Tommasi leads the Cougars in their inagural season with 24 freshmen. Texas-Pan American head coach Glad Bugariu will be the first Broncs women’s soccer coach in school history. Bugariu has 19 freshmen and seven players with college experience.