Coates, Schaaf and Sabadash Named Soccer Players of the Week
Southland Soccer Notes
FRISCO, Texas – Nicholls senior forward Jess Coates, McNeese junior defender Nikki Schaaf and Southeastern Louisiana senior goalkeeper Hope Sabadash were named the Southland Conference Women’s Soccer Players of the Week presented by UniversalCoin.com, the league announced Tuesday. Coates earned offensive honors while Schaaf received defensive accolades and Sabadash was tabbed the top goalkeeper for the week.
Offensive Player of the Week – Jess Coates, Nicholls
After a season-ending injury in 2015, redshirt-senior Jess Coates returned to put an exclamation mark on the Colonels’ opening weekend of 2016. Coates earned a hat trick and assisted on a fourth goal against Southern on Sunday. She was also instrumental in Nicholls’ 3-1 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette on Friday.
Honorable Mention: Allison Abendschein, Houston Baptist; Savannah LaRicci, McNeese; Anslea Haikey, Central Arkansas
Defensive Player of the Week – Nikki Schaaf, McNeese
Nikki Schaaf led a McNeese defense that stymied numerous offensive attacks on the weekend as the Cowgirls defeated Louisiana Tech 2-1 Wednesday and Texas State 2-0 Friday. At Louisiana Tech, Schaaf and the Cowgirls allowed one goal early in the second half, despite facing 11 shots while deflecting 16 shots from Texas State, who had scored two or more goals in its first two games. Only seven of the opponents' 27 shots on the weekend were able to be on goal thanks to the disruption from Schaaf and the back line.
Honorable Mention: Katherine Kelly, Nicholls; Maddie Kresevic, Southeastern Louisiana; Shay Johnson, Abilene Christian
Goalkeeper of the Week – Hope Sabadash, Southeastern Louisiana
Hope Sabadash allowed one goal in 200 minutes of play over the weekend. The senior goalkeeper made three saves in the 1-0 loss against Arkansas State and made 14 saves while facing 22 shots in a 0-0 tie with Louisiana-Monroe on Sunday.
Honorable Mention: Annie Bravenec, McNeese; Alanis Guevara, Houston Baptist; Roosa Hurmerinta, Nicholls; Anna 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.