Complete Release in PDF Format
WAC Soccer Players of the Week
Offensive: Aminah Settles, Fr., F, CSU Bakersfield
Settles, a freshman from Tucson, Ariz. (Catalina Foothills HS), scored the game-winning goal against NM State on Oct. 2 in the 63rd minute. Settles also created the go-ahead goal for the ‘Runners against UT Rio Grande Valley on Oct. 4 when she was pulled down from behind on a breakaway in the box, earning the ‘Runners a penalty kick. Settles later scored her fifth goal of the year to ice the match against UTRGV. As just a redshirt freshman, she is now third in CSUB Division I history for goals in a season (5), eighth for goals in a career (5), and tenth for career points (11).
Other offensive nominees included: Chicago State sophomore forward Lexi Montgomery converted a penalty kick against Utah Valley … NM State sophomore midfielder Holly Abdelkader scored the game-winning goal for the Aggies vs. Grand Canyon and added an assist against CSU Bakersfield … Seattle U senior forward Julia Moravec had two goals and an assists in a win over Chicago State … … Utah Valley junior midfielder Taylor Kirk scored the game-winning goal in the Wolverines' victory over UMKC and added two assists in the win over Chicago State.
Defensive: Kelly Beck, Sr., D, Seattle U
Beck, a senior defender from Tacoma, Wash. (Bellarmine Prep), led the Seattle U backline to its fifth and sixth shutouts of the season. The Redhawks have recorded five shutouts in their last seven games, all on the road. Beck, a second team All-WAC selection last year, spearheaded the SU defensive effort that allowed Chicago State no shots in a 5-0 shutout on Oct. 2. Two days later, Beck and the Redhawks' defense held UMKC off the scoreboard and limited the ‘Roos to just five shots on goal in a double-overtime tie.
Other defensive nominees included: CSU Bakersfield senior goalkeeper Tori Ornela led the ‘Runners to two wins, including a shutout victory over UTRGV, making 11 saves and allowing just one goal on the weekend … Chicago State freshman goalkeeper Audra Wisehart made 12 saves against Seattle U … Grand Canyon sophomore defender Madison Cox led the Lopes' defense to a shutout win over UTRGV and scored the game-winning goal ... NM State freshman goalkeeper Rian Nials made 11 saves and gave up three goals on the weekend, going 1-1 … UT Rio Grande Valley sophomore defender Marcela Ramirez led a back line that allowed just 16-35 shots on target in two matches … Utah Valley senior goalkeeper Jessica Duffin made six saves in a shutout win at UMKC and kept Chicago State scoreless for a half as the Wolverines went 2-0 on the weekend.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
In the eight matches that took place on the weekend, the road team won six matches, with both CSU Bakersfield and Utah Valley pulling earning a full six points win two wins each. The home team was only able to grab points in two matches, as NM State defeated Grand Canyon and UMKC tied Seattle U.
HISTORIC WEEKEND FOR CSU BAKERSFIELD
With a wins against NM State and UT Rio Grande Valley, the ‘Runners earned their first double-win weekend on the road since CSUB moved to NCAA Division I in 2007. Additionally, the ‘Runners are on a three-match road win streak after defeating Air Force 2-1 on Sept. 20. Before this three-win stretch, CSUB had only won back-to-back road matches once in Division I history (2009). With seven contests remaining in the regular season, the ‘Runners have already matched their win total from the 2014 season.
ROAD WARRIORS
Seattle U wrapped up of a stretch of seven-straight matches away from home on the weekend with a 5-0 win over Chicago State and a 0-0 tie with UMKC. SU, which played its first four matches of the season in Seattle (three home matches, one at Washington) before the seven-game road trip, returns for its first home match since Aug. 30 on Friday against UTRGV. The Redhawks went 4-0-3 during the trip, picking up shutouts in five of the seven matches.
SEATTLE U RANKED EIGHTH IN WEST REGION
Seattle U improved to eighth in the NSCAA West Region rankings following a 5-0 win over Chicago State and a 0-0 tie against UMKC. The Redhawks have been ranked in the West Region every week but one this season.
SHOOTING GALLERY
UMKC set a school record for shots in a game twice this season, most recently firing off 60 shots (with 28 on target) against Chicago State on Sept. 27 in a 6-0 win. That total is a record for a WAC match, topping Tulsa's total of 48 shots vs. Wyoming in 1996.
UMKC took 41 shots against Eastern Illinois on Sept. 18, but were only able to muster one goal, which didn't come until overtime in the 1-0 win.
SHOT STOPPERS
During the match against UMKC on Sept. 27, Chicago State's goalkeepers combined to tie a WAC record for saves in conference match, making 22 saves. Freshman Audra Wisehart and sophomore Taylor Conroy each made 11 saves while playing a half. UMKC peppered the Cougars, shooting 60 times in the match, with 28 shots on target.
Wisehart made 17 saves in the Cougars loss to Indiana State on Sept. 18, the second-most ever recorded in WAC history. The WAC record is 18 saves, set by Demarre Sanchez of Hawai'i in 2000 against SMU.
DUFFIN SETS UTAH VALLEY CAREER SHUTOUT RECORD
Jessica Duffin became the all-time career shutouts leader at Utah Valley with a 1-0 shutout win over Portland State on Sept. 20. Duffin passed Lauren Sack (11) for the top spot, now sits at 13 career clean sheets.
WORKING OVERTIME
UT Rio Grande Valley went to overtime in five of its first seven matches this season. The Vaqueros are 1-1-3 in those matches and have played an extra 84 minutes, 27 seconds of soccer so far on the season, almost an entire extra regulation contest.