WAC WOMEN’S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Missouri-Kansas City’s Alyssa Elver 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. 27 through Nov. 2.
Elver, a senior from Overland Park, Kan. (Blue Valley West HS), had an outstanding weekend for the Kangaroos, tallying four goals and an assists in a pair of big wins over Chicago State. After picking up an assist in Friday’s 8-0 win in Chicago, Elver came alive on Sunday, scoring four goals in a 13-0 win over the Cougars. She had a hat trick by the 17 minute mark as her boot was responsible for the first three goals of the game.
Other offensive nominees included: Grand Canyon forward Milla Benedetti scored a pair of goals in two wins at Bakersfield…New Mexico State midfielder Stephanie Petre scored twice in a 4-1 win over Texas-Pan American on Friday afternoon…Seattle U forward Taylor Ritzman recorded a goal and an assist in the Redhawks’ 2-0 win over Utah Valley…Utah Valley midfielder Kasandra Anderson led the Wolverines with two shots against Seattle U…Texas-Pan American midfielder Zinnia Hannig scored her second career goal in the third minute in a 4-1 loss at New Mexico State.
Fraasch, a freshman from Prior Lake, Minn. (Prior Lake HS), notched back-to-back shutouts on the road at Bakersfield to help Grand Canyon finish the regular season tied for third in the WAC standings. She grabbed a total of six saves in the two wins, including five on Saturday night. Fraasch holds a conference-best .855 save percentage in WAC games and her four season shutouts rank her second in the conference.
Other defensive nominees included: Missouri-Kansas City defender Kaely Tott spearheaded a defensive effort that allowed just four shots in two games…Seattle U defender Kelly Beck anchored the defense in a shutout at Utah Valley, not allowing a single shot on goal in the match…Utah Valley goalkeeper Jessica Duffin made seven saves in a 2-0 loss to Seattle U on Saturday.
SCORING OFTEN
The WAC saw its fourth hat trick of the season in the final game of the year as Missouri-Kansas City’s Alyssa Elver exploded for four goals in a 13-0 win over Chicago State. Just under three weeks after recording the first WAC hat trick of the 2014 season on Oct. 5, Bakersfield’s Hadda Regefalk, a sophomore forward from Stockholm, Sweden (Blackebergs Gymnasium), did it again with a trio of goals on Oct. 24 against Texas-Pan American. Not to be outdone, Seattle U’s Stephanie Verdoia scored a hat trick of her own on Oct. 26, adding two assists to her three goals in an 11-0 win over Chicago State.
WAC STAT LEADERS
Among team leaders, co-champions Seattle U and Missouri-Kansas City lead many of the categories. Seattle U is tops in points per game (8.44), goals per game (3.00), and assists per game (2.44) while Missouri-Kansas City leads in shots per game (17.53), goals allowed (0.74) and goals-against average (0.70). Chicago State finished their inaugural season leading the WAC in saves per game (11.00) while Utah Valley holds the conference lead in shutouts at nine.
Individually, Seattle U’s Stephanie Verdoia leads the conference in shots per game (5.11), points per game (2.72), goals per game (1.06), assists per game (0.61) and game-winning goals (6). Missouri-Kansas City keeper Nina Tzianos is tops in goals against average (0.65) and save percentage (0.882). Bakersfield’s Tori Ornela holds the lead in saves (5.42), Chicago State’s Carrie Hepp leads in saves per game (7.69) and Utah Valley’s Jessica Duffin leads the conference in shutouts (9).
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.