United Athletic Conference

Complete release (PDF)

 

Utah Valley's Sadie Brockbank and Seattle U's Jessica Berlin been named TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for September 6 through 12.

 

Brockbank, a junior forward from Holladay, Utah, led the league in goals scored this past week with three. Her goals contributed to the Wolverines' two wins. Her first goal came as the game decider when she scored UVU's second goal on their 2-0 win over San Jose State, Monday. To close the week, Brockbank played a major role in handing Boise State their first loss of the season by scoring two goals in their 3-0 win on Sunday.

 

Berlin, a junior goalkeeper from Burke, Va., played a key role on the Seattle U's 2-1 win over the highly offensive Washington State, Thursday. The Redhawks showed efficiency in defense letting only one goal made against them among the 25 shots made by the Cougars. Brockbank became the core of SU's defensive line, recording a whopping season high with nine saves in the net. 

 

Other offensive nominees: California Baptist's Faith Lee scored the Lancer's game-winner on their 3-1 win over Nevada, Thursday … Chicago State's Sara Quevedo started the week strong by scoring a goal on the third minute of the Cougars' first game, in their 2-2 draw against Purdue Fort Wayne … Grand Canyon's Marleen Schimmer led the Lopes' offensive contributions with a goal and an assist on their 4-2 win over Denver, Thursday … NM State's Hannah Leitner assisted the Aggies' lone goal of the week on their Thursday overtime 1-2 loss against UTEP, she is now the program's all-time leader in assists … Seattle U's Jourdyn Curran contributed to all of SU's goals past week with one goal and an assist on their 2-1 win over Washington State, Thursday … UT Rio Grande Valley's Emily Zapata scored a pair of goals this past week, her goal against Incarnate Word tied the program's career goals recored with 27.

 

Other defensive nominees: California Baptist's Romy Salvador contributed three saves for the Lancers on their 3-1 win over Nevada, Thursday … Grand Canyon's Hannah Edwards was the Lopes' main player at the back last weekend, playing a total of 172 contributing to their Thursday 4-2 over Denver … UT Rio Grande Valley's Macie Blohowiak helped the Vaqueros record their third shutout on thei 3-0 win over Concordia, Wednesday … Utah Valley' Brooklyn Nielsen didn't allow any goal as she recorded three saves on the Wolverines' two shutout wins past weekend. 

 

UT Rio Grande Valley will be opening these week's matches with a home game against Our Lady of the Lake on Wednesday. Fifteen other matches are scheduled this coming weekend.

 

Coming off the fourth week, Grand Canyon keeps their spot as league leaders in shots (156), points (55), goals (19), assists (17) and assists per game (2.13), and average goals per game (2.38). Utah Valley tied the Lopes at the top in shutouts (4) and is the lone leader in corner kicks (41). Seattle U grabbed the top spot for least goals allowed (6) and goals against average (0.80). Dixie State leads the league in saves (56). 

 

Individually, Grand Canyon's Marleen Schimmer keeps the top spot for total shots (50) and shots per game (6.25). Lamar's Isela Ramirez is the current top scorer of the league (5). NM State's Hannah Leitner has the most assists (4). In the net, Grand Canyon's Jordan Ferguson is in the lead with the least goals against average (0.92) while Dixie State's Kayla Gonzales is at the top in save percentage (.875) and saves per game (7.80). Lamar's Nicole Panis is the leader in saves (45). 

 

Seattle U continues their winning trend improving their record to 5-1-1 and extending their winning-streak to four. The Redhawks' consistent performance puts them at the top of the West Division standings. Utah Valley had a good week racking up to wins with two shutouts. 

 

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.