United Athletic Conference

Kansas City's Rylan Childers and Seattle U's Madison Waguespack were selected as the Western Athletic Conference Women's Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for Aug. 27-Sept. 2, respectively.

 

Childers, a sophomore midfielder from Grain Valley, Mo., helped lead the Roos to an undefeated weekend after posting three total goals in two games. With Childers leading the charge, the Roos picked up victories over Eastern Illinois, 2-1, and Western Illinois, 3-1. She managed six points on the weekend, making her the sole leader in goals and points for the conference. Dating back to last season, Childers has now scored a goal in seven of her last nine matches.

 

In her first career start, Waguespack, a freshman goalkeeper from Round Rock, Texas, led the Redhawks to a historical tie against Washington. Waguespack played every minute for Seattle U en route to two wins and a tie on the weekend. The tie marks the first time that the Redhawks picked up a point against the Huskies in 15 all-time meetings. The freshman allowed only two goals in 296:29 minutes of play, making 11 total saves in three contests including a penalty save on the road at Washington.

 

Other offensive nominees: Grand Canyon's Emma Anderson picked up her second consecutive nomination after netting her first career penalty kick against UTEP... Upon making an appearance as a defensive nominee last week, NM State's Corey Kizer showed she can do it all by snagging her first career goal against Idaho State... Bailey Hall of Seattle U made her case as she managed to score two goals and tab two assists in three games for the Redhawks... UT Rio Grande Valley's Diana Ansah grabbed her first career game-winning goal against Texas A&M Corpus Christi... Julianna Carter of Utah Valley helped lead the Wolverines to a home victory with her game-winner against Cal Poly.

 

Other defensive nominees: Kansas City's Carly Janike helped lead the Roos to a 4-0 start on the season by limiting both opponents to only one goal this weekend... Kinga Szemik of UT Rio Grande Valley posted nine saves and two shutouts on the way to an undefeated weekend... Utah Valley's Katie Haskins anchored a Wolverine defense that held Cal Poly to just one shot on goal in their 2-0 victory.

 

Currently, California Baptist leads the league in shots taken (67) while being tied for second with UT Rio Grande Valley in goals (7). The Vaqueros great team play has resulted in a league-leading 6 assists and a tie for first in total points (20). Kansas City also has 20 points on the season and sits alone with most goals scored (8). Through two weeks, Chicago State and NM State lead the conference in saves (26). While Kansas City maintains the best goals against average (.500).

 

Indivdually, California Baptist's Karley Weeks leads the league in shots (16). However, sophomore Rylan Childers of Kansas City is the top goal scorer and point getter in the conference with four goals and nine points thus far. Seattle U's Bailey Hall, UT Rio Grande Valley's Shentatious Knox and Kansas City's Amanda Sampson are in a three-way tie for most assists (2). NM State's Dmitri Fong and Judith Sorribes of Chicago State share the conference lead for the most saves (26). Meanwhile, UT Rio Grande Valley's Kinga Szemik, California Baptist's Abigail Tyhurst and Seattle U's Madison Waguespack are all tied for the league lead in shutouts (2).

 

Following a second straight undefeated weekend, the Roos were named to the United Soccer Coaches Pacific Region Top 10, picking up the number nine ranking. Kansas City picked up wins over Eastern Illinois and Western Illinois, leaving them atop the conference. The 4-0 start is the best start for the Roos in program history.

 

Last week Seattle U managed a tie against Washington, making this the first time that the Redhawks have taken a point from the Huskies in 15 all-time meetings. WAC Defensive Player of the Week made a penalty stop in the 50th minute of a game that eventually ended in a double overtime tie.

 

WAC teams will play in five more matches against teams that made an NCAA Tournament appearance last year. This week Utah Valley will travel to see San Jose State on Friday, Sept. 6 as well as Santa Clara on Sunday, Sept. 8. Matches hosted by WAC schools will be available to stream on the WAC Digital Network at www.wacsports.com/watch.