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WAC Soccer Players of the week
Offensive: Nikki Lynch, So., F, Missouri-Kansas City
Lynch, a sophomore from Leawood, Kansas (Blue Valley Southwest HS), played a major factor in both of UMKC's wins over the weekend. On Friday night against Drake, it was Lynch's goal in the 12th minute off of a cross from Reighan Childers that lifted the ‘Roos over the Bulldogs, 1-0. Lynch worked her magic again on Sunday against Creighton. Down 1-0 late in the match, she dribbled around a defender and fired a shot from just inside the 18-yard box and tucked it inside the far post for the equalizer, sparking the comeback win for UMKC. Lynch took two shots in the match, putting both on goal, and took a total of four shots on the weekend with a .750 shots on goal percentage.
Other offensive nominees included: CSU Bakersfield freshman forward Aminah Settles … Grand Canyon junior forward Kelsie Roberts … New Mexico State freshman midfielder/forward Aileen Galicia … Seattle U freshman forward Karli White … UTRGV freshman midfielder Kelzy Jepsen …Utah Valley senior midfielder Jamie Brown.
Defensive: Nina Tzianos, Sr., GK, Missouri-Kansas City
Tzianos, a senior goalkeeper from St. Louis, Mo. (Lindbergh HS), recorded the 21st shutout of her career in UMKC's first match to lead the ‘Roos to a 1-0 victory over Drake. Tzianos was credited with seven saves in the match, including six in the second half, to hold onto the 1-0 lead. She gave up just one goal on Sunday against Creighton, off a penalty kick in the 37th minute. Tzianos made five saves to bring her early-season total to 12 and her save percentage to .923.
Other defensive nominees included: CSU Bakersfield senior goalkeeper Tori Ornela … Chicago State freshman goalkeeper Audra Wisehart … Seattle U senior goalkeeper Brianna Smallidge … UTRGV sophomore goalkeeper Erica Gonzalez … Utah Valley senior goalkeeper Jessica Duffin.
CURNEEN PICKS UP 100TH WIN
With the 4-0 win over Humboldt State, CSU Bakersfield Head Coach Gary Curneen reach the century mark in career wins. Curneen, who earned 95 wins at the helm of his alma mater, Wingate, had four victories with the CSU Bakersfield women's soccer team last season.
SEATTLE U RANKED EIGHTH IN NSCAA WEST REGION
In the Aug. 25 NSCAA West Regional Rankings, Seattle U remains eighth in the poll. SU began the 2015 season 1-1, playing two Pac 12 foes, falling to Washington State, 3-1, and defeating Oregon, 1-0 (2OT).
UMKC'S FAST START
For just the second time in program history, Missouri-Kansas City started the season 2-0 with wins over Drake and Creighton. The 2013 squad opened with victories over SIU-Edwardsville and Southeast Missouri State, before dropping its next two matches. This season's team will attempt to achieve the best start in school history on Friday at Missouri State.
TZIANOS EXTENDS UMKC SHUTOUT RECORD
Nina Tzianos posted her 21st career shutout at Drake during the ‘Roos 1-0 win, which pads her lead as the all-time shutout leader in UMKC history.
GOLDEN GOALS
Four of the 13 matches involving WAC teams on the first weekend went to overtime, and all four ended with a sudden death goal. Grand Canyon's goal by Kelsie Roberts to defeat Northern Arizona was the only one that took place in the first overtime. NM State, Seattle U and UTRGV each saw matches go to double overtime, but only SU, on the strength of a Karli White winner against Oregon, was able to come out on top. Both goals conceded by NM State and UTRGV came in the 108th minute of action.
THRILLERS
Seven of the 13 matches on the first weekend of action were one-goal contests, providing some very dramatic moments. Some of the highlights were:
Aug. 21
-Grand Canyon rallies twice from a one-goal deficit against NAU to force overtime, before Kelsie Roberts heads home a Kathryn Yancone cross in the 95th minute to give GCU the win.
Aug. 23
-With the game tied 0-0, Seattle U's Brianna Smallidge turned aside an Oregon penalty kick in the 90th minute to keep the Redhawks' chances alive. In the second extra time frame, freshman Karli White scored the golden goal off an assist from Julia Moravec in 103rd minute.
-Trailing Drake since the 37th minute, UMKC rallied with two goals in just under three minutes of action to take a 2-1 victory. Nikki Lynch equalized in the 82nd minute, before freshman midfielder Reighan Childers scored off of a rebounded penalty kick miss in the 85th minute. The game-winner was the first collegiate goal by Childers.
NCAA OPPONENTS
WAC teams will play in 12 matches against teams that played in the NCAA Tournament last year. Six of the matches will be played at WAC home sites with Missouri-Kansas City hosting two with NM State, Seattle U, UTRGV and Utah Valley each hosting one. Missouri-Kansas City leads all teams with three matches against postseason participants, followed by two each for Grand Canyon, Seattle U and UTRGV. Chicago State, NM State and Utah Valley will play one.
Aug. 21 San Diego State def. Utah Valley, 6-0
Aug. 21 Washington State def. Seattle U, 3-1
Aug. 21 Grand Canyon def. Northern Arizona, 3-2 (2OT)
Aug. 28 Seattle U at Washington
Aug. 28 Prairie View A&M at UTRGV
Sept. 4 South Dakota State at Missouri-Kansas City
Sept. 6 SIU Edwardsville at Chicago State
Sept. 13 Grand Canyon at Florida State
Sept. 13 Missouri-Kansas City at Arkansas
Sept. 13 UTRGV at Houston Baptist
Sept. 20 Oklahoma State at Missouri-Kansas City
Sept. 20 Prairie View A&M at NM State
2015 NCAA COLLEGE CUP
The 34th Annual Women's College Cup at Wakemed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C., Dec. 4 and 6. Last season, Seattle U represented the WAC in the NCAA Tournament. The Redhawks defeated Washington St. in the first round, 2-1 in double overtime, but fell at South Carolina in penalty kicks, 0-0 (2-1), in the second round. The following is a list of sites and dates for the 2015 NCAA Tournament:
First Round (64)
Nov. 13-15, 2015
On campus sites TBD
Second Round (32)
Nov. 20, 2015
On campus sites TBD
Third Round (16)
Nov. 22, 2015
On campus sites TBD
Quarterfinals (8)
Nov. 27-28, 2015
On campus sites TBD
Women's College Cup
Dec. 4 and 6, 2015
Wakemed Soccer Park
Cary, N.C.