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PHOENIX - The Western Athletic Conference has announced its All-WAC women's soccer teams and major awards as selected by the league's eight head coaches. Kansas City's Lexie Howard was named WAC Offensive Player of the Year while her teammate Abby Small claimed WAC Defensive Player of the Year. Utah Valley forward Amber Tripp was named WAC Freshman of the Year and Kansas City's head coach Chris Cissell was named WAC Coach of the Year.
Howard, a junior from Kearney, Mo., recorded three game-winning goals in a row to tie two others for the lead in the WAC. The first was in the 2-1 victory over UT Rio Grande Valley, next was in the 1-0 victory over NM State and finally in the 8-0 win over Chicago State. She finished WAC play with 23 shots, 10 points and five goals.
Small, a sophomore from Kansas City, Mo., anchored a backline that allowed only one goal in WAC play. She started all seven conference games and racked up 568 minutes. She helped her team stay undefeated in conference play and was a large part in her team recording six shutouts
Tripp, a freshman from Draper, Utah, started five of the seven conference matches she played in. In the 409 minutes on the pitch, she scored four goals and tallied one assist. Of those goals, she produced the game-winner against NM State in the 5-2 victory.
Cissell led his team to their first outright WAC regular season title since joining in 2013. In 2014, the Roos were co-champions with Seattle but ultimately went into the tournament as the No. 2 seed. He has led the Roos to consistently finish in the top-three in the regular season going into post season play. With 26 seasons under his belt as a men's and women's collegiate head soccer coach, he has compiled an overall record of 355-159-40 and 73-53-18 with Kansas City.
2017 First Team All-WAC
Aileen Garcia, Jr., F, NM State
Devin Hart, R-Fr., F, NM State
Lexie Howard, Jr., F, Kansas City
Kelsey Mothershead, Jr., F, Kansas City
Reighan Childers, Jr., MF, Kansas City
McKenzie Cook, Jr., MF, Grand Canyon
Breanna DeWaal, So., MF, Utah Valley
Hannah Bruce, So., D, Utah Valley
Abby Small, So., D, Kansas City
Stephanie Spiekerman, Sr., D, Seattle U
Blakely Fraasch, Sr., GK, Grand Canyon
2017 Second Team All-WAC
Andreya Barrera, Sr., F, UT Rio Grande Valley
Breanna McCarter, R-Jr., F, Utah Valley
Jessie Ray, So., F, Seattle U
Sarah Bonney, So., MF, UT Rio Grande Valley
Tori Smith, Sr., MF, Utah Valley
Hanna Spets, Sr., MF, UT Rio Grande Valley
Hannah Carrothers, Fr., D, Seattle U
Halle Hamilton, So., D, Kansas City
Tuva Rolstad Nilsen, Fr., D, UT Rio Grande Valley
Libby Weber, Sr., D, Utah Valley
Dmitri Fong, R-Fr, GK, NM State
Offensive Player of the Year: Lexie Howard, Jr., F, Kansas City
Defensive Player of the Year: Abby Small, So., D, Kansas City
Freshman of the Year: Amber Tripp, Fr., F, Utah Valley
Coach of the Year: Chris Cissell, Kansas City