HBU’s Cortez, UIW’s Morales, SFA’s Talbot Garner Final Weekly Soccer Awards
Southland Conference Soccer Weekly Release (PDF)
FRISCO, Texas – Houston Baptist’s Avery Cortez, UIW’s Cloe Morales and Stephen F. Austin’s Madeline Talbot are the Southland Conference Soccer Players of the Week, the league announced Sunday.
Cortez bookended the Offensive Player of the Week awards this season after earning the first honor back on Aug. 26. She scored and assisted on the Huskies’ other two goals as HBU (3-15, 2-9 SLC) closed the season with a 3-1 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Friday.
Morales found the back of the net for the first time this season and the second occasion in her career in a 3-2 loss to Abilene Christian on Friday. UIW (8-10, 7-4 SLC) secured the No. 4 seed in the Southland Conference Tournament and will face No. 5 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the quarterfinal round at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Conway, Ark.
A week after recording the most saves by a Division I goalkeeper this fall (18), Talbot carried that momentum into the series finale against rival Sam Houston State on Friday, stopping six shots in a 2-1 win. With the victory, the Ladyjacks (8-10, 5-6 SLC) clinched the final spot in the conference tournament and will take on top-seed Lamar at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Offensive Player of the Week: Avery Cortez, Houston Baptist – Jr. – Forward/Midfielder – Houston, Texas
Cortez scored HBU’s first goal of the year and the last as her unassisted score put a bow on a 3-1 win over A&M-Corpus Christi in the 87
th minute. She also tallied a pair of assists on goals in the seventh and 65
th minutes. Cortez finished with four shots and a pair of attempts on frame.
Honorable Mention: Sophia Fondren, Stephen F. Austin; Norma Trejo, Northwestern St.; Caylen Wright, Abilene Christian.
Defensive Player of the Week: Cloe Morales, UIW – So. – Defender – Calallen, Texas
Morales became the seventh different Cardinal to record a goal this season, netting her first of the year in the 56
th minute against Abilene Christian. After UIW allowed two early goals, she led a Cardinal defense that limited the Wildcats’ opportunities to help the comeback effort.
Honorable Mention: None.
Goalkeeper of the Week: Madeline Talbot, Stephen F. Austin – R-So. – Goalkeeper – Shreveport, La.
Improving her record in league matches to 3-1-0, Talbot made six saves to keep the Bearkats off the board until the second half so her squad could lay claim to the final Southland Conference Tournament berth. All six of her saves came in the first half as she faced 12 shots in the opening period.
Honorable Mention: None.