United Athletic Conference

Complete release (PDF)

 

Abilene Christian's Natalie Jones and Lamar's Nicole Panis been named TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for October 18 through 24.

 

Jones, a junior midfielder from Lubbock, Texas, scored two goals including the game-winner on their upset 3-1 win over Stephen F. Austin, Sunday. It was her first multi-scoring game this season. Jones recorded a total of five shots with three on goal this weekend.

 

Panis, a junior goalkeeper from Opmeer, Netherlands, recorded a total of nine saves in one game contributing a major role as the Cardinals squeak a 0-0 draw against UT Rio Grande Valley, Saturday. Panis faced 15 shots made against her and managed to pick up her fifth shutout of the season. She is currently the WAC leader in number of saves with 89.

 

Other offensive nominees: Dixie State's Kalea Woodyatt contributed an assist on Thursday's 3-2 win over California Baptist then ended the week by scoring the Trailblazers' opening goal on their second win the week  with a 2-1 over Seattle U, Saturday … NM State's Grace Olson scored the Aggies' winning goal in the second overtime when they hand Grand Canyon their first conference play loss on Saturday's 2-1 win … Sam Houston's Caitlyn McDonald scored two goals on the Bearkats' 2-0 win  over Chicago State, Sunday … Stephen F Austin's Jayme Bailey scored the Lumberjacks' third goal when they secure the Southwest division title in Friday's 4-0 win over Chicago State … Utah Valley's Amber Tripp scored a goal and assisted the game winner on Thursday's 2-0 win over Seattle U, at the end of the week she flurried California Baptist's goal with four shots as the Wolverines pick up an 1-0 win, Saturday.

 

Other defensive nominees: Abilene Christian's Macie Stephens led a defensive line that only allowed 10 shots made against them this past week, contributing to two wins for the Wildcats … … Dixie State's Adelle Brown recorded the highest number of saves in the WAC this past week with ten, contributing major defensive role that led to two wins for the Trailblazers … Grand Canyon's Hannah Edwards contributed offensively for the Lopes as she scored their only goal this past week on Saturday's 1-2 loss against NM State … NM State's Makenna Gottschalk recorded a total of seven saves and only conceded one goal on Saturday's 2-1 win over West division leader Grand Canyon …. Stephen F. Austin's Jamie Jezierski led a defensive line that recorded a shutout on Friday's 4-0 win over Chicago State ... UT Rio Grande Valley's Maile Lunardi recorded a total of four saves which led to a shutout draw against Lamar, Saturday … Utah Valley's Brooklyn Nielsen recorded a pair of shutouts and four saves this past week as the Wolverines picked up two conference play wins.

 

Going into the last week of regular season, Stephen F. Austin has locked the Southwest Division title after their shutout 4-0 win over Chicago State, Friday. In the same division, WAC championship tournament host, Abilene Christian came back into the qualifying mix as they rack up two wins this past week, putting them in fourth place just one point behind third-place Lamar.

 

In the West Division, Grand Canyon and Utah Valley are now tied in first with 17 points. While third-place California Baptist and fourth-place NM State are battling for a spot in the championship tournament with only one point between them.

 

After the fourth week of WAC play, Grand Canyon keeps their spot as league leaders in shots (288), points (130), goals (45), assists (40), assists per game (2.35), average goals per game (2.65) and least goals against average (0.78). Utah Valley is the leader in shutouts (9) and corner kicks (97). Dixie State leads the league in saves (125). 

 

Individually, Grand Canyon's Marleen Schimmer is the league's current top scorer (10). Schimmer is also the WAC leader in total shots (91), shots on goal (42), assists (10) and points (30). In the net, Lamar's Nicole Panis is the leader in saves (89). Kayla Gonzales is the leader in saves per game (7). Grand Canyon's Jordan Ferguson is in the lead with the least goals against average (0.71) and save percentage (.826). 

 

Following a short offseason and an influx of new programs, Stephen F. Austin is the preseason favorite to win the 2021 Western Athletic Conference Southwest Division while Utah Valley is the coaches' pick to win the WAC West Division in a vote of the league's 12 head coaches, who could not vote for their own team or players. 

 

WAC-newcomer Stephen F. Austin received three first place votes to edge out Abilene Christian and Lamar for the top spot with 22 points, compared with two first place votes and 18 points for the Wildcats and one first place vote and 18 points for the Cardinals. UT Rio Grande Valley was picked fourth, followed by Sam Houston in fifth and Chicago State in sixth.

 

In the west, defending WAC champion Utah Valley received four first place votes and 24 total points to edge out rival Seattle U for the first spot. The Redhawks received one first place vote and 21 points to take second, followed by Grand Canyon, with the final first place vote and 17 points, in third. California Baptist takes fourth, NM State is fifth and Dixie State is sixth.

 

Seattle U's Sydney Carr and UVU's Jenna Shephard were selected as the WAC Preseason Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year respectively in a vote of the league's 12 head coaches, who could not vote for their own team or players.

 

Carr represented the Redhawks on the Preseason All-WAC team whole Shephard was joined by teammates Sadie Brockback, Heather Stainbrook and Amber Tripp. California Baptist had two players honored as Erin Gallagher and Romy Salvador represented the Lancers. Also earning honors were Abilene Christian's Christina Arteaga, Dixie State's Whitley Griffiths, Grand Canyon's Marleen Schimmer and Stephen F. Austin's Jamie Jezierski. 

 

The Western Athletic Conference is a little bit bigger this season as Abilene Christian, Lamar, Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin have all joined the party. Due to the increase from eight teams to 12 teams, the league will play in a divisional format this season with the top three teams from each division advancing to the WAC Tournament.

 

WAC women's soccer teams will take on some of the top teams in the nation this season with 17 non-conference games against opponents that participated in the 2020-21 NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament in North Carolina. Stephen F. Austin has the most daunting schedule, facing off against four postseason opponents. GCU is second with three matches scheduled against NCAA tournament teams. Sam Houston and Seattle U have two each.

 

The 2021 WAC Women's Soccer Tournament will feature the top three teams from each division on November 3, 5, and 7 at Elmer Gray Stadium in Abilene, Texas. The two divisional winners will receive byes to the semifinal round with the second place team taking on the third place team from the other division in the first round.

 

As Tarleton continues its growth to NCAA Division I, the athletics department will be adding women's soccer with the expectation to begin play in the fall of 2022. Southern Utah will also join the WAC, with the Thunderbirds moving all their athletic grams from the Big Sky Conference to the WAC effective July 1, 2022.