DENVER - Grand Canyon's Niki Jackson and Utah Valley's Alex Neff have been named Western Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for Sep. 12 - Sep. 18.
Jackson, a junior forward from Scottsdale, Ariz. (Cactus Shadows HS), scored his first career hat trick, and the first in the WAC this season, in a 3-0 win over IUPUI on Thursday night. Three of his four shots ended up in the back of the net to give the striker a team-best five goals and 11 points on the season.
Neff, a senior defender from South Weber, Utah (Northridge HS), led a UVU defense that notched two shutouts on the week. The 19th-ranked Wolverines did not allow a single shot on goal in a 1-0 win against 20th-ranked Gonzaga and followed that up with just two shots on goal allowed in a 1-0 win over CSUN on Saturday. UVU has posted three straight shutouts.
Other offensive nominees: Air Force's Austin Dewing scored two goals in a wild 4-3 win at San Francisco on Sunday … CSU Bakersfield's Hugo Vinales recorded his first career two-goal game in a 3-2 loss to UC Davis and scored the equalizer in Sunday's 2-1 win at Loyola Marymount … Seattle U's Ozzie Ramos contributed one goal and two assists as the Redhawks won a pair at home … Utah Valley's Skyler Milne scored the game-winner in Saturday's 1-0 win over CSUN.
Other defensive nominees: Air Force's Trey Pujats was an integral part on defense as the Falcons posted wins at Saint Mary's and San Francisco … CSU Bakersfield's Nicolas Clever made 12 saves over two matches as the ‘Runners split a pair of one-goal matches … Grand Canyon's Kendyl Day collected his second shutout of the season in a 3-0 win over IUPUI on Friday and made three saves in Sunday's overtime loss to Pacific … Seattle U's RJ Noll anchored the Redhawks defense that allowed just one goal in a pair of home wins, making four saves in goal.