DENVER – Grand Canyon's Gianna Gourley and Utah Valley's Sydney Bushman been named TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for September 20 through 26.
Gourley, a junior forward from Las Vegas, Nevada, scored the first WAC hat trick of the season on the Lopes' 5-1 win over Dixie State, Saturday. She scored the back-to-back goals within four minutes solidifying GCU's first WAC game win.
Bushman, a sophomore defender from American Fork, Utah, anchored the Wolverines' defense to two shutouts this past week, she was the key player that contributed to UVU's 62 percent possession game on their 2-0 win over NM State, Saturday. She helped limit the number of shots on goal to only seven made against UVU in the past week.
Other offensive nominees: Abilene Christian's Emily Heidman scored the game winner in overtime on the Wildcats' 3-2 win over UTRGV, Sunday … California Baptist's Madison Sonerholm scored the Lancers' game-winner on their 1-0 win over Seattle U, Saturday … Lamar's Christine Kitaru contributed to all the goals scored by the Cardinals this past week with two goals and an assist on their 3-1 win over Chicago State, Sunday … NM State's Bella Garcia scored at the 77th in what turned to be the game-winner on Thursday's 2-1 win over Dixie State … Stephen F Austin's Teia Haynes scored a game-winner as a substitute on their 2-0 win over Sam Houston, Friday … UT Rio Grande Valley's Shentatious Knox scored the Vaqueros' game winner on their WAC opener 1-0 over Chicago State, Friday …. Utah Valley's Sadie Brockbank recorded a total of 10 shots with four on target and contributed to both goals for the Wolverines with a goal and an assist on their 2-0 win over NM State, Saturday.
Other defensive nominees: Abilene Christian's Lily Foster recorded a total of 14 saves and a shutout, contributing to the Wildcats' Sunday 3-2 win over UTRGV in a highly offensive game where both teams made more than 20 shots with nine and 10 on goal respectively … California Baptist's Romy Salvador recorded her third shutout of the season and 16th in her career as a Lancer on their win 1-0 over Seattle U, Saturday … Chicago State's Lauren Reiber played a major role in the Cougars' defensive line on their narrow losses this past week … Grand Canyon's Tyler Ferguson showed versatility as she fulfilled her duty anchoring the Lopes' defense that only conceded one goal while contributing offensively with an assist on Saturday's 5-1 win over Dixie State … Lamar's Nicole Panis was on the net for the Cardinals in a week where they only conceded one goal … NM State's Makenna Gottschalk recorded 15 saves, nine of which contributed to the Aggies' 2-1 win over Dixie State, Thursday … Stephen F Austin's Jamie Jezierski played all 90 minutes contributing both defensively and offensively with an assist on the Lumberjacks' 2-0 shutout win over Sam Houston, Friday … UT Rio Grande Valley's Maile Lunardi recorded her third shutout of the season on their 1-0 win over Chicago State, Friday.