This Week in WAC Women's Soccer - Oct. 29
This Week in WAC Women's Soccer - Oct. 29
KC'S PROKOP AND CIPOLLA NAMED PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Kansas City's Lindsey Prokop and Maddi Cipolla were selected as the Western Athletic Conference Women's Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for Oct. 21-28, respectively.
Prokop, a freshman forward from Omaha, Neb., helped lead her team to two wins and an undefeated weekend as she either scored or assisted on every KC goal. Prokop scored a goal and picked up an assist in a 2-0 win over NM State on Oct. 24. The three-point outing was the freshman's first multi-point game of her career. Prokop also helped her team pick up a much-needed win over league-leading California Baptist. She secured the win for the 'Roos when she netted the golden goal in the 99th minute against the Lancers. The game-winner guarantees Kansas City a spot in the 2019 WAC Women's Soccer Tournament.
Cipolla, a junior defender from Lee's Summit, Mo., was instrumental in two Kansas City shutout victories over NM State and California Baptist. The defender played all 180 minutes for the 'Roos and anchored the backline in both wins over the weekend. Cipolla made a game-winning team save on the goal line to preserve a shutout in the 1-0 victory over California Baptist. The two clean sheets give the 'Roos nine shutouts on the season.
Other offensive nominees: Grand Canyon's Dani Babb recorded a hat trick in the Lopes 5-0 win over Chicago State on Oct. 24... Jessie Ray of Seattle U managed seven points for the Redhawks over the weekend as she scored three goals and added an assist in two matches... UT Rio Grande Valley's Emily Zapata netted her team-leading sixth goal as she picked up the Vaqueros lone score against Seattle U... Breanna DeWaal of Utah Valley recorded a brace, including the game-winner as the Wolverines defeated UT Rio Grande Valley 3-1 on Oct. 24.
Other defensive nominees: Grand Canyon's Sophia Roberts, a converted forward, managed an assist from her defense position as GCU defeated Chicago State 5-0 on Oct. 24... Allie Jara of Utah Valley tallied two wins, four saves and a shutout over the weekend as she led the Wolverines over UT Rio Grande Valley, 3-1, and Grand Canyon, 1-0.
BY THE NUMBERS
With three weeks of conference play remaining, California Baptist leads the league in shots taken (323) and goals (35). Utah Valley continues to pace the conference in total points (98) and assists (30). Chicago State leads the league in saves (137). After a strong weekend, Kansas City has allowed the fewest goals (14) through nine weeks. The 'Roos also lead the league in goals-against average (.740).
Individually, California Baptist's Rola Badawiya is the league's top goal scorer with 10 goals thus far. Kansas City's Rylan Childers and Jessie Ray of Seattle U each have seven assists to lead the conference in that category. KC's Childers also paces the league in points with 25. The Lancers' Badawiya leads the conference in game-winners (5). Judith Sorribes of Chicago State is the league leader in saves (143). Of goalies that have played in one-third of their team's minutes, California Baptist's Romy Salvador holds the best goals-against average (0.65) and save percentage (.824). Erin Roth of Kansas City leads the league in clean sheets as she picked up her seventh of the year against California Baptist.
TOURNAMENT SPOTS ON THE LINE
Five teams have secured their spot in 2019 WAC Women's Soccer Tournament with CSU Bakersfield and NM State still vying for the final position. The five teams that are guaranteed a spot in the tournament are Grand Canyon, Kansas City, Seattle U, UT Rio Grande Valley and Utah Valley. Tournament seeding has yet to be determined. CSU Bakersfield can make the field with a win or a tie this weekend when they face Grand Canyon on Nov. 2.
In order for NM State to qualify, the Aggies would need to beat UT Rio Grande Valley and hope for a CSU Bakersfield loss. In this scenario, NM State and CSU Bakersfield would finish the season with the same conference record. However, NM State won the head-to-head matchup as they defeated the 'Runners 1-0 in overtime on Oct. 18.
Both Seattle U and Utah Valley have secured a first-round bye in the tournament with Seattle U holding on to a one-point lead heading into the final week of play. The top two teams will face each other on Nov. 2 in Seattle with the top seed in the tournament on the line. Seattle U will claim the top spot with either a win or a tie, while Utah Valley will leapfrog the Redhawks with a win on Saturday night.
The 2019 WAC women's soccer regular season title is also up for grabs with California Baptist, Seattle U and Utah Valley all in contention. A draw between Seattle U and Utah Valley will make California Baptist the regular season champion. A win for either Seattle U or Utah Valley will mean the victor will be the regular season champion.
KC'S SMALL NAMED SENIOR CLASS AWARD® CANDIDATE
Kansas City senior defender Abby Small has been selected as one of 30 women's candidates for the Senior CLASS Award®. The total list of candidates is comprised of 60 NCAA men's and women's soccer student-athletes who excel both on and off the field.
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
Small, a two-time Academic All-WAC selection, was selected to the United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-Region second team in 2018. As an electrical and computer engineering major, Small currently has a 3.64 cumulative GPA.
Small exemplifies leadership on and off the field as one of the SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee) and SALC (Student-Athlete Leadership Council) leaders and representatives for Kansas City. Through SALC, Small volunteers with Children's Mercy Hospital and donates to the Greater KC Boys & Girls Club.
Academically, Small is a member of IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), a member of SWE (Society of Women Engineers) and a member of Engineers without Borders.
Starting 67 of a possible 68 games in which she has played, Small has proved to be an anchor on the Roos strong defense. A two-time All-WAC First Team selection, Small was named the Preseason WAC Defensive Player of the Year for the second year in a row. She is a part of a Kansas City team that is coming off its second consecutive WAC regular-season title. At the time of nomination, Small and the Kansas City defense was ranked 44th in the nation in goals-against average (.547).
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
The group of 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season. Those 10 finalists will be placed on an official ballot that is distributed through a nationwide voting system. One female candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four C's of community, classroom, character and competition will be selected.
The Senior CLASS Award winners will be announced during the 2019 NCAA Women's College Cup® championships in December.