WAC WOMEN’S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Texas-Pan American’s Hannah Spets has been named Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week, while teammate Aubrie Coley has been named Defensive Player of the Week for September 22-28.
Offensive: Spets, a freshman midfielder from Karlstad, Sweden (Sundstagymnasiet), scored the Broncs’ game-winning goal in their victory over the New Mexico State Aggies. With the match tied at 1-1 at the 64:35 mark, Spets grabbed a loose ball to put the Broncs up 2-1. Just over 11 minutes later she added insurance with a second goal scored off of a corner kick. Spets had three shots on the goal and two goals with four points. This was her first multi-goal match.
Other offensive nominees included: Seattle U freshman forward Stephanie Spiekerman … New Mexico State senior forward Katie Smith… Utah Valley sophomore forward Sheridan Fox.
Defensive: Coley, a freshman goal keeper from Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. (Capistrano Valley HS) started her first home game against New Mexico State where she made four saves from the Aggies. Coley stopped both shots she faced in the first half and played the ball out of the net on several occasions to prevent shots on goal from occurring. Her saves percentage of 0.800 helped the Broncs to their first WAC victory this season.
Other defensive nominees included: Seattle U freshman defender Madeline Racine.
UMKC’S TZIANOS NAMED NATIONAL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
College Sports Madness named Missouri-Kansas City goalkeeper Nina Tzianos the National Defensive Player of the Week for the Week of Sept. 15-21.
On the strength of eight saves, Tzianos led the ‘Roos to a 2-0 victory over Creighton in Omaha, Neb., on Sept. 19. The victory over the Blue Jays was the first in program history for UMKC. Creighton entered the match unbeaten at 7-0-0 and was averaging 3.71 goals per game.
The shutout was the third of the season for Tzianos and extended her school record to 16 for her career. The St. Louis, Mo., native was also recognized by the WAC Defensive Player of the Week. She is the first women’s soccer player in school history to receive national player of the week recognition.
WAC STAT LEADERS
As a team, Texas-Pan American leads the WAC in shots (14.27), points (4.91), assists per game (1.45), goals (1.73) and shutouts (0.45). Meanwhile, Seattle U leads in goals allowed (1.14), Missour-Kansas City leads in goals against averager (0.74) and goals allowed (0.78) and Chicago State leads the league in saves (10.22).
Individually, Seattle U’s Stephanie Verdoia leads the WAC in shots per game (4.78), points per game (1.78), goals per game (0.78) and game-winning goals (0.22). Missouri-Kansas City’s Ellie Chadick is tops in assists per game (0.44) and Nina Tzianos leads in goals against average (0.76) and save percentage (.894). Chicago State’s Carrie Hepp leads the league in saves per game (7.86) and Texas-Pan American’s Aubrie Coley is tops in shutouts per game (0.38).
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.