Utah State University Athletics

Soccer’s Whitney Lopez Named America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week

Women's Soccer 11/6/2023 12:17:00 PM

LOGAN, Utah – Utah State senior midfielder Whitney Lopez has been named the America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week for the period ending on Monday, Nov. 6. The award is voted on by a state-wide media panel.

With their sponsorship of the Student-Athlete of the Week, America First Credit Union donates funds directly to support student-athlete scholarships.

Lopez was named the Mountain West Tournament Most Valuable Player after leading the Aggies to the program's first-ever MW title with a 1-0 overtime win against third-seeded Boise State in the semifinals and a 1-0 win against fourth-seeded Colorado State in the championship match.

The native of Logan, Utah, scored the game-winning goal in USU's overtime win against BSU. Just over three minutes into the first overtime period, Lopez drew a foul just outside of the 18-yard box, which set the Aggies up with a free kick. She then stepped up and delivered a perfectly placed strike just out of reach of the diving Bronco for the lone goal of the contest.

By winning the Mountain West tournament, the Aggies earned the league's auto-bid to the NCAA Championships. They will find out their first-round opponent and location when the bracket is revealed today at 2 p.m. on NCAA.com.

Nominees from other sports for USU Student-Athlete of the Week included:

FOOTBALL – Sophomore safety Ike Larsen (Smithfield, Utah) recorded eight tackles, including 1.0 tackles for loss, and intercepted a pass on a fourth-down play in double-overtime to seal Utah State's 32-24 Mountain West win at San Diego State. Larsen also disrupted a fake field in the second quarter that was not converted.

MEN'S TENNIS – Senior Bodin Zarkovic (Belgrade, Serbia) became only the second Aggie in program history to compete at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Fall National Championships and the first to advance in the tournament as he posted a three-sets win (7-6, 1-6, 6-2) against Glendale Community College's Jean-Baptiste Badon in the round of 32 of the Men's Open Singles Draw. Zarkovic then lost in the round of 16 to Texas' Micah Braswell in straight sets (6-4, 6-3).

VOLLEYBALL – Senior outside hitter Tatum Stall (Chandler, Arizona) helped Utah State officially clinch at least a share of the Mountain West regular season title after sweeping both Air Force and New Mexico at home last week. Against the Falcons, Stall had 14 kills, hitting .429, to go along with eight digs, one assists and a service ace. Against the Lobos, she had 21 kills, the most by an Aggie this season, while hitting .500. She also logged six digs and a block. For the week, Stall had 35 kills, hitting .470, while adding 14 digs, one assists, one ace and a block.

2023-24 America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week Winners
Aug. 28 – Shelby Capllonch, Volleyball
Sept. 4 – Adna Mehmedovic, Volleyball
Sept. 11 – Jaiden Francois, Football
Sept. 18 – Diera Walton, Soccer
Sept. 25 – Shelby Capllonch, Volleyball
Oct. 2 – Bodin Zarkovic, Men's Tennis
Oct. 9 – Cooper Legas, Football
Oct. 16 – Tatum Stall, Volleyball
Oct. 23 – Bodin Zarkovic, Men's Tennis
Oct. 30 – Julio Arronte Sanchez, Golf
Nov. 6 – Whitney Lopez, Soccer

-USU-

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Players Mentioned

#10 Whitney Lopez: Midfielder; 5' 3"; Junior

#0 Diera Walton: Goalkeeper; 5' 8"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#10 Whitney Lopez
: 5' 3"; Junior
: Midfielder

#0 Diera Walton
: 5' 8"; Senior
: Goalkeeper

Players Mentioned

#10 Whitney Lopez

#0 Diera Walton

Players Mentioned

#10 Whitney Lopez

#0 Diera Walton