After two weeks of play, three men’s teams - Midwestern State, Incarnate Word and Northeastern State - each remain undefeated. On the women’s side, Abilene Christian and East Central both have a perfect records. Conference play begins on the men’s side this week with West Texas A&M matched up against Eastern New Mexico and No. 10 Incarnate Word at No. 2 Midwestern State in a battle of top-10 teams. The women continue with non-conference contests.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
MEN’S OFFENSIVE
Paulo Teixeira, Midwestern State University, Sr., MF, Brockton, Mass., Brockton HS Teixeira tallied a goal and an assist at the Midwestern State Classic as he helped the third-ranked Mustangs to wins over Colorado State-Pueblo on Friday and Colorado-Colorado Springs on Sunday. The senior from Brockton, Mass., threaded a short through ball to David Freeland for the opening goal in the 20th minute Friday night against Colorado State-Pueblo, and then tapped in a short volley off of Tex McCullough’s throw-in in the 66th minute Sunday for the game winner over Colorado-Colorado Springs. Teixeira now has six goals and four assists since transferring to MSU from Massasoit College prior to his junior season.
MEN’S DEFENSIVE
Raul Herrera, Midwestern State University, Sr., GK, Dallas, Texas, Berkner HS Herrera notched his 15th career shutout while helping No. 3-ranked Mustangs to consecutive victories over the weekend at the Midwestern State Classic. The senior from Dallas made one save in a 4-0 win over Colorado State-Pueblo on Friday before stopping three shots in a 1-0 shutout of Colorado-Colorado Springs Sunday afternoon. Herrera has made six saves this season while posting 256-plus shutout minutes.
WOMEN’S OFFENSIVE
Whitney Watts, East Central University, Jr., F, North Richland Hills, Texas, Richland HS Watts scored four goals - two in each match - and recorded an assist as ECU shut out Hendrix College 4-0 and University of the Ozarks 9-0. Watts also had an assist against Ozarks. She scored the first goal in each game. She now has five goals and a pair of assists for 12 points for the season.
WOMEN’S DEFENSIVE
Molly Hummel, East Central University, So., D, Dallas, Texas, J.J. Pearce HS Hummel led an ECU defensive charge which allowed just eight total shots in two games combined as the Lady Tigers shut out Hendrix College 4-0 and University of the Ozarks 9-0. Hummel also managed to score a goal in the win over Ozarks.
WOMEN’S GOALKEEPER
Tori Puentes, University of the Incarnate Word, Jr., Las Cruces, NM, Las Cruces HS
Puentes made four saves in a 1-1 double-overtime tie against Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas.