DENVER - CSU Bakersfield's Sophie Freeman and Seattle U's Stephanie Spiekerman have been named Western Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for the week of Oct. 17-23.
Freeman, a freshman midfielder from Bakersfield, Calif. (Garces Memorial HS), scored four goals in two wins on the weekend as CSUB moved into second place in the WAC standings. Freeman scored the game-winning goal with just 47 seconds remaining to break a scoreless draw in the win over UTRGV on Friday. The goal, which came on her birthday, was a blast from 25-yards out, helping CSUB earn its seventh victory of the season, setting the school DI record for wins in a season. On Sunday, Freeman recorded a hat trick in a 5-2 victory over NM State, the seventh in DI history for the ‘Runners and 15th all-time. She now leads the WAC with five goals and 10 points during conference play.
Spiekerman, a junior defender from Seattle, Wash. (Bishop Blanchette HS), was the anchor of a Seattle U defense that allowed just one goal during a 2-0 weekend, allowing the Redhawks to claim their fourth-straight WAC regular season championship. The junior centerback played all 90 minutes on Thursday as SU defeated UMKC, 3-1. She was a key factor in the Roos managing just six total shots in the match. On Saturday, Spiekerman led Seattle U to its WAC-leading eighth shutout of the season, finishing play on Championship Field with a 3-0 shutout of Chicago State. The Redhawks are currently riding a seven-game win streak, a stretch that has included four shutouts. This is Spiekerman's third WAC Player of the Week honor this season.
Other offensive nominees included: Grand Canyon junior forward Milla Benedetti had a goal and an assist in the Lopes win over NM State … Seattle U senior midfielder Natasha Howe scored two goals and added an assist as the Redhawks went undefeated on the weekend in two matches … UTRGV freshman forward Sarah Bonney scored her WAC-leading 11th goal of the season on a double-overtime penalty kick as UTRGV defeated Grand Canyon on Sunday … Utah Valley freshman forward Breanna DeWaal scored three goals and added an assist in two matches as the Wolverines picked up two WAC wins on the week.
Other defensive nominees included: CSUB sophomore goalkeeper Jen Padilla earned two wins on the weekend, including a seven save shutout of UTRGV on Friday … Grand Canyon junior defender Fiona Samodurov scored a goal and played a key role for the GCU backline that shutout NM State on Friday … UTRGV freshman goalkeeper Kinga Szemik picked up a win with a double-overtime shutout of Grand Canyon, a match that saw the Vaqueros shorthanded for over 90 minutes of action … Utah Valley senior defender Kalli Suesue anchored the Wolverines to two wins on the weekend, including a shutout victory over Chicago State on Thursday.