Earlier yesterday, the Bearcats woman’s soccer program received the news that three players were tabbed with AAC conference honors as freshman forward Megan Smith was named AAC Rookie of the Week, junior Anna Rexford was named AAC Goalkeeper of the Week, while graduate midfielder Brandi Thomsen was tabbed to the AAC Honor Roll.
Smith was tabbed the AAC Rookie of the Year for the third time this season after recording her fourth goal of the season in the teams 2-0 victory over Houston last Thursday. Smith now tied with Vanessa DiNardo and Paige Miller on the season with a team high four goals which ranks her tied for 9th within the American Athletic Conference. Smith, the speedy freshman has continued to make a big impact for Neil Stafford and the Bearcats since arriving on campus early this summer.
Junior Goalkeeper Anna Rexford was tabbed the AAC goalkeeper of the week after tying her career high in saves on Thursday night where she recorded six saves in the teams 2-0 victory over Houston.
“Anna Rexford continues to get better, our goalkeeper coach Jake has done a fantastic job with her along with Payton Hasse. The Work they have put in during training, you can really see that everyone is getting better in that position. I am very proud of Anna, but it was a really great team performance and I thought we played well, and I really thought we showed our class tonight,” said Bearcats head coach Neil Stafford following the teams 2-0 victory over Houston.
Rexford is now tied for third in the AAC in shutouts as she has recorded five shutouts on the season and has been a huge point to the Bearcats success throughout the season. Rexford also sits 7th in the American Athletic Conference in saves where she has recorded 36 saves on the season where she averages 2.50 saves per game.
Graduate midfielder Brandi Thomsen was also tabbed to the AAC Honor Roll after recording her second goal of the season in the teams 1-0 victory over USF on Sunday after finding the back of the net in the third minute. Thomsen has been a vital piece for the Bearcats this season as she currently averages 2.07 shots per game as her veteran leadership alongside Vanessa DiNardo is what makes that Bearcats offense so dangerous.
“Brandi Thomsen is the best trainer we have, her professionalism, character, the way she goes about her training habits, she is the last person to leave training every day, to see Brandi rewarded for all of her hard work that she puts in, she really understands what we are trying to do tactically. Brandi’s leadership and experience is invaluable to the team, you can really see how the under classman gravitate towards her, Brandi is an extraordinary woman on and off the field,” said Bearcats head coach Neil Stafford following the Bearcats 1-0 victory over USF.
The Bearcats will look to continue to close out their season in a positive note as they have played some of their best soccer as of late down the stretch the last couple of weeks as they look to close out the season with three straight victories as they prepare to travel to Greenville, North Carolina to take on the ECU Pirates this Thursday at 7 pm as they look to secure a home match to kick off the AAC Conference tournament.
