United Athletic Conference

Complete release (PDF)

 

Grand Canyon's Marleen Schimmer and NM State's Makenna Gottschalk been named TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for September 27 through October 3.

 

Schimmer, a senior forward from Mainz, Germany, scored her first hat trick of the season on the Lopes' Friday 6-1 win over California Baptist. On top of that, she finished the weekend strong by scoring the overtime game winner on their 1-0 win over Seattle U, Sunday. The four goals she made this past week boosted her to top spot in goals in the conference with eight.

 

Gottschalk, a senior goalkeeper from Broomsfield, Colo., was in the net playing a major role in the Aggies' defense when they managed to snag two wins this past week. She recorded nine saves and a shutout, while playing all 180 minutes. Gottschalk is currently the WAC leader in minutes played in the net.

 

Other offensive nominees: Abilene Christian's Chayse Thorn contributed a goal and two assists for the Wildcats on Saturday's 6-1 win over Chicago State … Chicago State's Sara Quevedo contributed to all the goals scored by the Cougars this past week with a goal and an assist in two matches … Dixie State's Brynlee Roberts scored a goal and played a major offensive role for the Trailblazers … Lamar's Isela Ramirez scored one a piece in both of LU's games including a game winner on Sunday's 2-1 win over Sam Houston … NM State's Bella Garcia contributed on both of Aggies' game winners with an assist and a goal … Sam Houston's Caitlyn McDonald scored one goal on each of the Bearkats' games including a game winner on Thursday's 1-0 win over UTRGV … Stephen F Austin's Mattie Musser contributed to the Lumberjacks' game winners on both wins with an assist and a goal … UT Rio Grande Valley's Anna Torslov lone goal this past week on their narrow 1-2 loss against Stephen F. Austin, Sunday …. Utah Valley's Julianna Carter contributed a goal and an assist on the Wolverines' Saturday 3-2 win over Dixie State.

 

Other defensive nominees: Abilene Christian's Lily Foster only allowed one goal this past week, contributing to Saturday's 6-1 win over Chicago State … Dixie State's Kayla Gonzales  recorded seven saves contributing defensively to the Trailblazers' narrow 1-2 loss against Utah Valley, Saturday … Grand Canyon's Jordan Ferguson was in the net for the Lopes for 172 minutes this past week, she conceded no goals, recorded nine saves and a shutout contributing to both wins … Sam Houston's Tatum Krueger was in the net for the Bearkats on Thursday's 1-0 shutout win over UTRGV, she recorded six saves … Stephen F Austin's Jamie Jezierski played major defensive role on the Lumberjacks' 2-1 wins over UTRGV and Lamar, she also contributed offensively with an assist … Utah Valley Nicole Olanda anchored the Wolverine defense that allowed Dixie State only four shots and just two on frame in UVU's 3-2 win over Dixie State, Saturday.

 

Off the second week Grand Canyon leads the West Division with 10 points, a slight edge over NM State in the runner-up position with 9 points. Stephen F. Austin keeps their perfect record of 3-0 putting them as the frontrunners of the Southwest Division with Abilene Christian in second with seven points. With four more weeks of WAC matches, the tournament tickets are still up for grabs for every team.

 

Coming off the second week of WAC matches, Grand Canyon keeps their spot as league leaders in shots (226), points (98), goals (35), assists (28), assists per game (2.15), average goals per game (2.69) and least goals against average (0.74). Utah Valley ties with Graand Canyon at the top in shutouts (6) and is the lone leader in corner kicks (72). Dixie State leads the league in saves (85). 

 

Individually, Grand Canyon's Marleen Schimmer took the lead in goals (8), total shots (71), shots per game (5.46), and assists (6). In the net, Dixie State's Kayla Gonzales is the leader in saves (78). Grand Canyon's Jordan Ferguson is in the lead with the least goals against average (0.64) and save percentage (.822). 

 

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.