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WAC Soccer Players of the week
Offensive: Reighan Childers, Fr., F, Missouri-Kansas City
Childers, a freshman midfielder from Grain Valley, Mo. (Grain Valley HS), assisted on the game-winning goal in UMKC's 3-1 victory over South Dakota State, placing a corner kick over multiple defenders' heads to the feet of junior defender Emily Herndon, who easily tapped home the goal in the fourth minute. In the victory over UT Martin, Childers used some fancy footwork to beat a defender just outside of the 18-yard box before firing a laser from 10-yards out past the goalkeeper for her second-career goal, putting UMKC up 3-0 before the half. In the second half, Childers crossed midfield with no one but the goalkeeper to beat and fired a rocket from 35-yards out for her second goal of the game. UMKC would go on to win the match 4-1, and the ‘Roos 5-1 start is the best in school history.
Other offensive nominees included: Grand Canyon sophomore forward Milla Benedetti fired nine shots and added a goal in two games for the Lopes … NM State freshman midfielder Aileen Galicia scored two goals and had an assist on the week as the Aggies went 1-1 ... Seattle U freshman midfielder Kyla Danforth scored the game-winning goal in the Redhawks' 1-0 victory over Gonzaga … UT Rio Grande Valley freshman forward Malia Irvine scored her first career goal against Texas A&M - Corpus Christi, equalizing the game in the 87th minute.
Defensive: Emily Talmon, Fr., D, Missouri-Kansas City
Talmon, a freshman defender from Papillion, Neb. (Papillion - La Vista HS), has played and started in all six games for the ‘Roos this season. Over the weekend, Talmon played all 180 minutes in the two wins for UMKC. She helped the ‘Roos hold opponents to just two goals in the two games, both of which came off set pieces, rather than open play. Against South Dakota State, an NCAA Tournament team last season, she played a major role in holding the Jackrabbits to just four shots on goal. The ‘Roos are off to a 5-1 start, the best in school history.
Other defensive nominees included: Grand Canyon sophomore defender Madison Cox led a defense that gave up two goals on the weekend, including a shutout victory over Alabama State … Seattle U senior goalkeeper Brianna Smallidge made two saves in a shutout victory over Gonzaga.
WOODWARD NABS WIN NO. 250
With a 1-0 victory over Gonzaga last Friday, Seattle U Head Coach Julie Woodward claimed her 250th career win. Woodward has coached her entire 19-year career at Seattle U.
UMKC OFF TO BEST START IN SCHOOL HISTORY
With their fourth and fifth wins of the season over the weekend, the UMKC Kangaroos are off to the best start in program history with a 5-1-0 record after six games. Prior to 2015, the best start for the ‘Roos was 2-0 in 2013, before losing the next two games.
ROAD WARRIORS
Seattle U began a stretch of seven-straight road matches last Friday against Gonzaga. 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.
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.
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 Missouri-Kansas City def. South Dakota State, 3-1
Sept. 6 SIU Edwardsville def. Chicago State, 7-0
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