This Week In WAC Women's Soccer - Aug. 24
This Week In WAC Women's Soccer - Aug. 24
2022 WAC WSOC Release - Week 2
FOUR TEAMS FINISH WEEK ONE UNBEATEN
Four different teams from the WAC closed the first week of the 2022 NCAA women’s soccer season without a blemish on the record. Southern Utah went a perfect 3-0 on a road swing, while Seattle U, Tarleton and Utah Valley each went 1-0-1 over two starts to remain unbeaten.
OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION FROM THE SUU OFFENSE
Southern Utah rocketed to the top of the conference standings with three victories to kick off the year, a 7-0 win at Alcorn State on Aug. 18, a 10-0 rout at Mississippi Valley State on Aug. 19 and a 1-0 clean sheet at Jackson State on Aug. 20. The Thunderbirds attempted a conference-high 70 shots (23.3 shots per match) on their way to 18 team goals, adding in 13 total assists for 49 total points after three matches.
GOALS APLENTY FOR WAC SQUADS
WAC members outscored the opposition 42-30 during the opening weekend of the regular season, with the 18 goals from Southern Utah setting the pace for the conference to begin the year. Week one conference offensive player of the week Sammie Sofonia tallied back-to-back hat tricks for Southern Utah in her first two career matches to set the individual league pace with six goals. Four players, Grand Canyon’s Gianna Gourley, Southern Utah’s Ashley Rivera, Abilene Christian’s Chayse Thorn and Southern Utah’s Whitney Wangsgard, each scored two goals during the first week.
STOUT DEFENSIVE SHOWING FOR SEATTLE U
Only Seattle U and Southern Utah capped the first weekend of the 2022 campaign without allowing a single goal. Seattle U only yielded a total of four combined shots on goal across two starts against Air Force and Fresno State, and sophomore defender Kait Raffensperger was recognized as the season’s first conference defensive player of the week.
UTAH VALLEY HOSTS NO. 23 UCF
A marquee match on the upcoming week’s WAC schedule pits No. 23 UCF on the road at Utah Valley on Aug. 25. The Wolverines tied Boise State 1-1 on Aug. 18 and blanked Colorado College 2-0 on Aug. 22 to begin the 2022 season.
SAM HOUSTON, NM STATE BOTH TRAVEL TO TEXAS A&M
WAC foes Sam Houston (Aug. 25) and NM State (Aug. 27) will face Texas A&M back-to-back in College Station this weekend. Texas A&M previously played host to the NCAA Women’s College Cup in 2005, 2007 and 2009.