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WAC Soccer Players of the Week
Offensive: Sheridan Fox, Jr., F, Utah Valley
Fox, a junior forward from Rescue, Calif. (Ponderosa HS), scored two goals and added an assist in the Wolverines 6-2 victory over Montana on Sunday. Fox scored on both of her shots on goal in the match and assisted on the Wolverines first goal, as UVU rallied twice from one-goal deficits before pulling away in the second half. She added two shots on goal in UVU's 1-0 win over in-state rival Utah State on Friday.
Other offensive nominees included: Grand Canyon sophomore forward Milla Benedetti scored two goals in Grand Canyon's victory over Colorado State … Missouri-Kansas City freshman midfielder/forward Lexie Howard scored a goal in the UMKC victory over Western Illinois and added an assist against Missouri State … New Mexico State freshman midfielder/forward Aileen Galicia scored on a 30-yard shot in the final minute against CSU Northridge … Seattle U senior forward Julia Moravec scored a goal and added an assist in the Redhawks' victory over Vanderbilt … UT Rio Grande Valley freshman midfielder Kelzy Jepsen assisted on both goals as the Vaqueros tied Prairie View A&M.
Defensive: Jessica Duffin, Sr., GK, Utah Valley
Duffin, a senior goalkeeper from Smithfield, Utah (Sky View HS), recorded the 11th shutout of her career in UVU's victory over Utah State and led the Wolverines to a 2-0 record on the weekend. Duffin, the WAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, made five saves in the victory over Utah State, including two in the final four minutes as the Wolverines held on for the win. Against Montana, Duffin held the Grizzlies scoreless for the final 72:43 of the match as UVU rallied for the victory.
Other defensive nominees included: Grand Canyon sophomore defender Madison Cox led a defense that held Colorado State scoreless for 84 minutes and Weber State scoreless for 82 minutes … UT Rio Grande Valley sophomore goalkeeper Erica Gonzalez made multiple strong defensive plays in addition to making three saves as UTRGV tied Prairie View A&M.
WAC STAT LEADERS
After two weekends of play, Utah Valley leads the WAC in points per game (7.0), goals per game (2.25) and assists per game (2.50). UT Rio Grande Valley leads the conference in shots per game, averaging 19.33.
On defense, UMKC leads in goals against average (0.75), Chicago State leads in saves per game (9.33), while UMKC and Utah Valley are tied with two shutouts on the year.
WOODWARD APPROACHING 250 WINS
Seattle U head coach Julie Woodward is just one win away from her 250th career win in her 19th season at the helm of the Redhawks.
ROAD WARRIORS
Seattle U begins a stretch of seven-straight road matches with Friday's contest against Gonzaga. SU, which played all four matches to this point in the season in Seattle (three home matches, one at Washington) will not play another home match until Oct. 9.
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.
SEATTLE U RANKED TENTH IN NSCAA WEST REGION
In the Sept. 1 NSCAA West Regional Rankings, Seattle U dropped two spots to tenth. SU is 2-2 on the year after playing three Pac 12 foes and one SEC opponent, defeateing Oregon (1-0 in 2OT and Vanderbilt (3-1).
TZIANOS EXTENDS UMKC SHUTOUT RECORD
Nina Tzianos posted her 22nd career shutout at Western Illinois in the ‘Roos 2-0 win, which pads her total as the all-time shutout leader in UMKC history.
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 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