Oct. 4, 2010

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State goalkeeper Molli Merrill was named the Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week, Monday. This is the second career WAC Player of the Week honor for Merrill.

Utah State has earned either WAC Offensive of Defensive Player of the Week four times this season. Junior forward Shantel Flanary has also earned the honor twice.

Merrill, a junior goalkeeper from Bountiful, Utah (Bountiful HS), doubled her shutout total this season with a pair of road shutouts against WAC opponents. Against Louisiana Tech on Oct. 1, Merrill had one save to earn her third shutout of the season as the Aggies defeated the Lady Techsters, 1-0. In Utah State's 3-0 victory at New Mexico State on Oct. 3, Merrill registered four saves. For the second time in six seasons, the Aggies now begin WAC play with a 2-0-0 record. The pair of shutouts also snapped a two-match losing streak for USU.

Chelsea Small, a sophomore forward from Idaho, scored four goals in leading the Vandals to a 2-0 record last week.

Merrill, who is in her second season as the Aggies regular starting goalkeeper, has four shutouts this season. She has recovered nicely after missing two matches with a leg injury. She has allowed 11 goals in 11 matches for a goals against average of 0.97.

Utah State returns home to begin a four-match homestand, beginning on Friday, Oct. 8 at 3 p.m. against WAC-rival Nevada. The Aggies will then step out of conference to take on Houston Baptist on Sunday, Oct. 10 at 1 p.m.

Fans can follow USU soccer at http://twitter.com/USUsoccer and Utah State athletics at http://twitter.com/USUAthletics.