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Grand Canyon University Athletics
Lopes tabbed third in WAC preseason poll
8/9/2017 11:35:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Benedetti, Cox and Fraasch named preseason All-WAC
DENVER – The Grand Canyon women's soccer team earned a third place spot in the 2017 Western Athletic Conference preseason poll, announced Wednesday by the conference office. Three senior Lopes including Milla Benedetti, Madison Cox and Blakely Fraasch were chosen for the preseason All-WAC team as well. Both awards were voted on by the league's head coaches who could not vote for their own student-athletes.
Seattle U earned the league's top preseason rank, while UMKC was second. CSU Bakersfield's Sabrina Delgado was named the preseason WAC Offensive Player of the Year, while Seattle's Stephanie Spiekerman earned the preseason WAC Defensive Player of the Year nod.
GCU finished third in 2016 with a 7-9-2 overall record. The Lopes were 3-2-2 in conference play, but were unable to compete beyond the regular season. This year marks the first that Grand Canyon is post-season eligible.
Benedetti, a forward hailing from Vancouver, Washington, finished second in the WAC last season with eight goals and 20 points. The preseason All-WAC designation marks the third-straight for the senior. Benedetti registered 54 shots with 30 on goal, while starting 17 games and playing a total of 1,315 minutes.
A native of Tampa, Florida, Cox is the owner of two-straight All-WAC honors. The defender scored four goals for eight points last season and was one of five players to start all 18 contests for GCU. Cox played a total of 1,640 minutes and tallied the game-winner in a conference contest with Utah Valley in October.
Fraasch hails from Prior Lake, Minnesota, and is a two-time All-WAC honoree. This year's preseason All-WAC designation marks the second-straight for the goalkeeper. Fraasch led the conference in WAC play in 2016 with a .56 goals-against average after allowing just four goals and posting three-consecutive shutouts.
2017 Preseason Women's Soccer Coaches Poll
Rank Team (1st Place) Points
1. Seattle U (7) 49
2. Kansas City (1) 36
3. Grand Canyon 34
4t. Utah Valley 32
4t. CSU Bakersfield 32
6. UT Rio Grande Valley 18
7. NM State 15
8. Chicago State 8
2017 Preseason All-WAC Team
Milla Benedetti, Sr., F, Grand Canyon
Sarah Bonney, So., F, UTRGV
Natasha Howe, Sr., F, Seattle U
Sabrina Delgado, Jr., MF, CSU Bakersfield
Reighan Childers, Jr., MF, Kansas City
Breanna DeWaal, So., MF, Utah Valley
Lexie Howard, Jr., MF Kansas City
Madison Cox, Sr., D, Grand Canyon
Stephanie Spiekerman, Sr., D, Seattle U
Hannah Carrothers, Jr., D, Seattle U
Blakely Fraasch, Sr., GK, Grand Canyon
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Sabrina Delgado, CSU Bakersfield
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Stephanie Spiekerman, Seattle U
The Lopes begin the 2017 season Friday, August 11 with a preseason exhibition matchup with Arizona in Tucson. GCU opens up regular season play on Friday, August 18 versus Texas Tech at the New Mexico tournament. Kickoff is slated for 3:00 p.m. (MT).
Seattle U earned the league's top preseason rank, while UMKC was second. CSU Bakersfield's Sabrina Delgado was named the preseason WAC Offensive Player of the Year, while Seattle's Stephanie Spiekerman earned the preseason WAC Defensive Player of the Year nod.
GCU finished third in 2016 with a 7-9-2 overall record. The Lopes were 3-2-2 in conference play, but were unable to compete beyond the regular season. This year marks the first that Grand Canyon is post-season eligible.
Benedetti, a forward hailing from Vancouver, Washington, finished second in the WAC last season with eight goals and 20 points. The preseason All-WAC designation marks the third-straight for the senior. Benedetti registered 54 shots with 30 on goal, while starting 17 games and playing a total of 1,315 minutes.
A native of Tampa, Florida, Cox is the owner of two-straight All-WAC honors. The defender scored four goals for eight points last season and was one of five players to start all 18 contests for GCU. Cox played a total of 1,640 minutes and tallied the game-winner in a conference contest with Utah Valley in October.
Fraasch hails from Prior Lake, Minnesota, and is a two-time All-WAC honoree. This year's preseason All-WAC designation marks the second-straight for the goalkeeper. Fraasch led the conference in WAC play in 2016 with a .56 goals-against average after allowing just four goals and posting three-consecutive shutouts.
2017 Preseason Women's Soccer Coaches Poll
Rank Team (1st Place) Points
1. Seattle U (7) 49
2. Kansas City (1) 36
3. Grand Canyon 34
4t. Utah Valley 32
4t. CSU Bakersfield 32
6. UT Rio Grande Valley 18
7. NM State 15
8. Chicago State 8
2017 Preseason All-WAC Team
Milla Benedetti, Sr., F, Grand Canyon
Sarah Bonney, So., F, UTRGV
Natasha Howe, Sr., F, Seattle U
Sabrina Delgado, Jr., MF, CSU Bakersfield
Reighan Childers, Jr., MF, Kansas City
Breanna DeWaal, So., MF, Utah Valley
Lexie Howard, Jr., MF Kansas City
Madison Cox, Sr., D, Grand Canyon
Stephanie Spiekerman, Sr., D, Seattle U
Hannah Carrothers, Jr., D, Seattle U
Blakely Fraasch, Sr., GK, Grand Canyon
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Sabrina Delgado, CSU Bakersfield
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Stephanie Spiekerman, Seattle U
The Lopes begin the 2017 season Friday, August 11 with a preseason exhibition matchup with Arizona in Tucson. GCU opens up regular season play on Friday, August 18 versus Texas Tech at the New Mexico tournament. Kickoff is slated for 3:00 p.m. (MT).
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Soccer
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/ Women's Soccer
GK
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