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WAC WOMEN'S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK ANNOUNCED
UT Rio Grande Valley's Sarah Bonney and NM State's Ashley Martin have been named Western Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for the week of Oct. 3-9.
Bonney, a freshman from Winneba, Ghana (U20 Ghana National Team), racked up six points in the Vaqueros' victory over Chicago State, the second-highest single-match output in program history, with two goals and two assists. She scored the two goals 16 seconds apart in the 12th minute. Bonney now has 24 points and 10 goals this season, breaking the single-season NCAA DI program records of 22 points and nine goals accomplished by Andreya Barrera in 2014. Bonney also has four assists, tied for the team lead and the UTRGV single-season NCAA DI program record.
Martin, a sophomore from Rio Rancho, N.M. (Cleveland HS), allowed just one goal and made 11 saves to help NM State secure a road draw against UMKC on Sunday. In a match where the ‘Roos outshot the Aggies 34-6, Martin made five saves in the first half to help the Aggies stay within striking distance and closed the match with four saves in the first overtime. She also started in the Aggies' win over Chicago State on Friday, making two saves and allowing no goals during her 45 minutes of action. Martin had a .929 save percentage on the week and her 82 saves on the season place her 19th in the nation.
Other offensive nominees included: CSU Bakersfield freshman forward Jordin Bartel scored twice in two matches on the weekend, including the game-winning goal as the ‘Runners topped Utah Valley on Friday … Chicago State freshman defender Makenzi Marier scored her first career goal in Chicago State's loss to NM State on Friday … Grand Canyon junior defender Madison Cox scored the game-winning goal in the second overtime as the Lopes defeated Utah Valley on Sunday … NM State senior midfielder Gabby Campbell scored one goal and had one assist as the Aggies opened WAC play with a victory over Chicago State and a tie at UMKC … Seattle U freshman forward Ayana Robles scored the game-tying goal with just under three minutes left in regulation and then assisted on Brie Hooks game-winner in overtime against CSUB … Utah Valley junior forward Sydney Fitzpatrick scored the Wolverines lone goal in a loss to Grand Canyon.
Other defensive nominees included: Chicago State sophomore goalkeeper Audra Wisehart made 23 saves in two matches on the weekend, including a season-high 13 against NM State on Friday … Grand Canyon junior goalkeeper Blakely Fraasch made four saves in Sunday's double-overtime victory over Utah Valley … Seattle U sophomore defender Hannah Carrothers was a key member of the SU backline that shutout Grand Canyon on Friday and assisted on the gam-tying goal in the 88th minute of the Redhawks' overtime win against CSUB on Sunday … UTRGV freshman goaltender Kinga Szemik made a career-high seven saves against UMKC in Friday's match … Utah Valley senior defender Kalli Suesue anchored a Wolverines' defense that allowed three goals on the weekend
WEEK ONE RECAP
Seattle U was the only team to make it out of the first weekend without dropping a point, going 2-0. The Redhawks won both matches by a goal and were just under three minutes from falling in regulation against CSU Bakersfield, before rallying for the tie and eventual win. UMKC and NM State are the only other undefeated teams, each picking up Friday wins and then drawing against each other on Sunday. Every team but Chicago State and preseason co-favorite Utah Valley picked up a win on the opening weekend.
KEEP IT TIGHT
The theme of week in the WAC play was nailbiters, as all but one match on the opening weekend was decided by one goal or less. Half the matches went into overtime, and three of the four overtime games went to double overtime. Chicago State was the only team in the conference not to play any extra soccer, while UMKC did it twice.
NOT SO SUDDEN DEATH
UMKC not only went to extra time in both matches, but the Roos earned points twice in two double overtime matches, defeating UTRGV 2-1 and drawing with NM State. This is now 19th-straight matches that went to overtime for the 'Roos that they have either won or tied. The last time UMKC lost in overtime was a 2-1 loss at Missouri State on Sept. 16, 2011.
SEATTLE U, UTAH VALLEY RANKED IN NSCAA WEST REGION
Seattle U and Utah Valley both remained in the top 10 of the NSCAA West Region rankings this week. SU moved up one spot to No. 8 on the strength of a 2-0 weekend in WAC play. The Wolverines remained at No. 10 despite suffering two one-goal losses and have been in the top 10 all but two weeks this season.
BONNEY CAN'T STOP SCORING, BREAKING RECORDS
UTRGV's Sarah Bonney racked up six points against Chicago State on Sunday, the second-highest single-match output in program history, with two goals and two assists. Bonney now has 24 points and 10 goals this season, breaking UTRGV's single-season NCAA DI program records of 22 points and nine goals accomplished by Andreya Barrera in 2014. Bonney also has four assists, tied for the team lead and the single-season UTRGV Division I program record.
GETTING OFFENSIVE
UTRGV continues to lead the NCAA in shots on goal per game (10.4) and is second in the nation in shots per game (21.62) and scoring offense (2.85). UTRGV is fourth in total goals (37), fifth in points per game (8.15), sixth in total points (106) and ninth in assists per game (2.46).
ENDING THE STREAK
CSU Bakersfield's 1-0 win over Utah Valley on Friday night ended the Wolverines' home winning streak at 14 matches. UVU hadn't been defeated at Clyde Field since Nov. 1, 2014, a 2-0 loss to Seattle U in the final regular season match of the season. The Wolverines were 12-0-2 in matches played at home during the streak.
COMING TO YOU LIVE
The WAC Digital Network will broadcast 27 regular season matches and all five matches of the 2016 WAC Women's Soccer Tournament in Kansas City, Mo.
There will be four matches on the WDN this weekend:
Friday
Utah Valley at UTRGV, 7 p.m. CT (WDN)
Grand Canyon at UMKC, 8 p.m. CT (WDN)
Sunday
Seattle U at UTRGV, 1 p.m. CT (WDN)
CSU Bakersfield at UMKC, 1 p.m. CT (WDN)
Tune in to catch the matches live at www.WACSports.com/live.
2016 WAC TOURNAMENT
The WAC Women's Soccer Tournament will be held in Kansas City, Mo., Nov. 3-4 and 6, hosted by UMKC. The top six eligible teams will participate (Grand Canyon is ineligible due to its transition from Division II to Division I).
2016 NCAA COLLEGE CUP
The 35th Annual Women's College Cup will be held Dec. 2 and 4 at a location TBD. Last year's WAC champs, the Utah Valley, came up just short in its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. The Wolverines lost a hard-fought 1-0 decision to 13th-ranked BYU on Nov. 14 in front of 3,663 fans at South Field.
The loss wrapped up a record-setting and historic season for Utah Valley (14-7-1), which won a school-record 14 matches and won its first-ever WAC Tournament championship.