Moore, O’Brien and Sabadash Named Soccer Players of the Week
Southland Conference
2016 Southland Soccer Final Regular Season Release (PDF)
FRISCO, Texas – Stephen F. Austin sophomore forward Breanna Moore, senior defender Kristi O’Brien of Houston Baptist and Southeastern La. senior goalkeeper Hope Sabadash were named the Southland Conference Women’s Soccer Players of the Week presented by UniversalCoin.com, the league announced Tuesday. Sabadash earned her second weekly goalkeeper honor after being named the top shot-stopper on Aug. 30.
Offensive Player of the Week – Breanna Moore, Stephen F. Austin
Moore had her first multi-goal game of her career this past Friday night. Her hat-trick sealed the win for SFA. Moore scored the first one in the 11th minute off a pass from teammate Kelly Ann Craig. The second goal was in the 45:53-minute mark, where Moore created the shot opportunity for herself, and the third goal was in the 67th minute from a corner kick taken by Hanna Barker. The Ladyjacks enter the Southland Conference tournament as the No. 2 seed this week, earning a bye to the semifinal round. They will play their match on Friday, Nov. 4 at 4 p.m., facing the winner of No. 3 Northwestern State and No. 6 McNeese.
Honorable Mention: Dylan Owens, Abilene Christian; Alex Moore, Central Arkansas
Defensive Player of the Week – Kristi O’Brien, Houston Baptist
Senior defender Kristi O’Brien scored a pair of goals as HBU clinched the No. 4 seed at next week’s conference tournament with a 4-1 victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. In the 29th minute, The Huskies sweeper took a free kick from 35 yards out and planted it in the back of the net, then took another free kick from 40 yards out two minutes later, with the same result, to give the Huskies a 3-0 lead. O’Brien has now scored three goals on the season, all from 35-plus yards out. Houston Baptist begins play in the Southland Conference tournament this week, entering as the No. 4 seed. They will face Southeastern La. on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m.
Honorable Mention: Christina Cutura, Southeastern La.; M.J. Eckart, Lamar; Julianna Echavarry, Stephen F. Austin
Goalkeeper of the Week – Hope Sabadash, Southeastern La.
Sabadash made four saves, three in the second half, for her fifth shutout of the season. She preserved the shutout with a diving save in the 83rd minute for a 3-0 win over Nicholls, ensuring their spot as the No. 5 seed in the Southland Conference tournament this week. They will face Houston Baptist on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m.
Honorable Mention: Rachel Gries, Lamar; Lillie Ehlert, Stephen F. Austin; Anne Hughes, Central Arkansas
Each school’s sports information director nominates and votes for the players of the week, though is not permitted to vote for his or her own player. To receive honorable mention, a student-athlete must receive votes from 25 percent of the Southland sports information directors.