This Week in WAC Women's Soccer - Sept. 24
This Week in WAC Women's Soccer - Sept. 24
UVU'S CARTER AND SHEPHERD NAMED PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Utah Valley's Julianna Carter and Jenna Shepherd were selected as the Western Athletic Conference Women's Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for Sept. 16-23, respectively.
Carter, a sophomore forward from Jasper, Texas, scored three goals on the week, including the game-winner on the road at UNLV. She recorded her first brace of the season as she netted a second goal against the Runnin' Rebels. Carter was also responsible for the equalizer that led to a 1-1 tie against San Diego. With her three goals, Carter ranks second amongst goal-scorers in the conference.
Shepherd, a redshirt freshman defender from American Fork, Utah, was the centerpiece for a Wolverine defense that held #10 BYU to just one goal. Shepherd and her teammates held MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List player Elise Flake to just two shots and no goals. The young defender also helped UVU limit San Diego to just one goal in a 1-1 double overtime tie. In the Wolverine's third game of the week, Shepherd anchored the defense in a 3-0 shutout victory over UNLV. Shepherd also managed to assist fellow player of the week, Julianna Carter, on her second goal against UNLV.
Other offensive nominees: California Baptist's Rola Badawiya recorded two goals, including a game-winner, as the Lancers bested Cal Poly... Camryn Larson of Grand Canyon recorded a team-high four shots against CSUN... Kansas City's Rylan Childers continues to lead the conference in goals, assists and points as she recorded two goals and two assists this weekend... UT Rio Grande Valley's Emily Zapata netted the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Grambling State.
Other defensive nominees: California Baptist's Abigail Tyhurst recorded a career-high 10 saves in a win against Cal Poly... Lauren Garthwaite of Grand Canyon managed four saves in the second half against CSUN... Kansas City's Erin Roth recorded her third clean sheet of the season.
BY THE NUMBERS
Currently, California Baptist leads the league in shots taken (149). Conference front runner Kansas City sits atop the league in goals (18), points (49) and assists (13). After five weeks of play, Chicago State leads the league in saves (72). Kansas City has allowed the fewest goals (6) and continues to lead the league in goals-against average (.570).
Individually, California Baptist's Karley Weeks leads the league in shots (34). Rylan Childers of Kansas City comfortably leads the league in points (18) and assists (6). Childers also remains the leading goal scorer in the conference with six goals. Chicago State's Judith Sorribes and NM State's Dimitri Fong are neck-and-neck for the most saves (50).
NEARING A MILESTONE
Seattle U's head coach Julie Woodward is approaching her 300th career victory as a head coach. The Redhawks will have an opportunity to place Woodward in elite company this weekend with victories over Loyola Marymount and Cal Poly. Currently, there are only 27 active Division I coaches that have eclipsed 300 total wins.
Woodward is in her 23rd season at the helm of the Redhawk women's soccer program. She has led SU to four WAC regular-season titles, four WAC Championships and four NCAA Tournament appearances since 2013.
NATIONAL PRESENCE
Kansas City's sophomore forward Rylan Childers presently ranks among the top-50 in six different major offensive categories. She is among the nation's best in total goals (6), game-winning goals (2), assists per game (0.60), total assists (6), total points (18) and points per game (1.80).
Childers and her team have also re-entered the national ranks as they were named to the United Soccer Coaches Pacific Region Top 10 for the second time this year. Of 338 Division I women's soccer programs, the Roos are one of only 38 programs that have at least seven wins on the season.
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 a 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 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 exellence 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.