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WAC Soccer Players of the Week
Offensive: Summer Mason, Fr., F, Seattle U
Mason, a freshman forward from Carlsbad, Calif. (Carlsbad HS), scored twice in two Seattle U wins on the weekend. In the Redhawks' 3-2 win over Creighton, Mason had three shots, two on target, and scored the opening goal of the match, firing in a shot from 15-yards out. Against Purdue, Mason scored her first career game-winning goal in the 15th minute and had four shots in the contest.
Other offensive nominees included: UT Rio Grande Valley's junior forward Elisa Espino scored the game-winning goal in overtime as the Vaqueros defeated South Dakota … Utah Valley junior forward Sheridan Fox scored a goal in the Wolverines victory over Idaho State.
Defensive: Evelyn Powell, Jr., D, UT Rio Grande Valley
Powell, a junior defender from Abingdon, Md. (Harford CC), earned All-Tournament Team honors at the UTRGV Invitational after anchoring defense that didn't allow a goal in 207:08 in a span of 22 hours. UTRGV defeated South Dakota, 1-0, in the first overtime win in program history for the Vaqueros, and tied Houston Baptist, 0-0. Powell led a defense that did a great job of clearing balls and disrupting attacks in the two overtime contests. The UTRGV defense forced opponents to settle for shots, with eight of 14 shots missing the net for South Dakota and 10 of 22 shots off target for Houston Baptist.
Other defensive nominees included: Missouri-Kansas City's Nina Tzianos made seven saves and allowed just one goal in a 1-0 loss at Arkansas … Seattle U senior goalkeeper Brianna Smallidge went 2-0 on the week, including a shutout victory over Purdue … Utah Valley defender Kalli Suesue led a Wolverine defense that allowed just one goal and six shots on target in a victory over Idaho State.
WORKING OVERTIME
UT Rio Grande Valley has gone into overtime in five-of-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.
Saturday's 1-0 win over South Dakota was UTRGV's first win in nine overtime matches in program history.
Due to weather in the area on Friday, the South Dakota match was postponed until Saturday. UTRGV then was forced to play two matches in just 22 hours, with both involving bonus soccer.
SEATTLE U RANKED NINTH IN WEST REGION
Seattle U returned to the NSCAA West Region rankings following two wins on the weekend. The Redhawks were ranked after each of the first two weeks before falling out of the rankings, but wins over Creighton and Purdue vaulted SU back into ninth.
ROAD WARRIORS
Seattle U is in the midst of a stretch of seven-straight matches away from home. SU, which played its first four matches of the season in Seattle (three home matches, one at Washington) will not play another home match until Oct. 9. The Redhawks are 3-0 during the trip, looking to continue the run at Idaho on Sunday.
WOODWARD NABS WIN NO. 250
With a 1-0 victory over Gonzaga on Sept. 4, Seattle U Head Coach Julie Woodward claimed her 250th career win. Woodward has coached her entire 19-year career at Seattle U.
CURNEEN PICKS UP 100TH WIN
With the 4-0 win over Humboldt State on Aug. 21, CSU Bakersfield Head Coach Gary Curneen reached 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.
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 and 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 each 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 Washington def. Seattle U, 3-0
Aug. 28 UTRGV tied Prairie View A&M, 2-2
Sept. 4 Missouri-Kansas City def. South Dakota State, 3-1
Sept. 6 SIU Edwardsville def. Chicago State, 7-0
Sept. 13 Florida State def. Grand Canyon, 3-0
Sept. 13 Arkansas def. Missouri-Kansas City, 1-0
Sept. 13 UTRGV tied Houston Baptist, 0-0 (2OT)
Sept. 20 Oklahoma State at Missouri-Kansas City
Sept. 20 Prairie View A&M at NM State