UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications

AWARDS: Valdepena, Matthews sweep ASC honors

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September 24, 2015

Media Contact:  Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)

September 21, 2015

TYLER – Brittany Matthews and Shelby Valdepena represent the UT Tyler women’s soccer team in a sweep the American Southwest Conference weekly awards after the Patriots earned a pair of shutout wins last week where they outscored the opposition 11-0 and improved to 6-0-1 on the season.

Matthews scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 win over Hardin-Simmons on Saturday after also scoring a goal in the 10-0 route of McMurry to earn ASC Offensive Player of the Week and Valdepena was stifling in for the Patriot defense which posted its fifth shutout of the season and only allowed four shots on goal in the two games. The weekly conference awards are the first for both players in their careers.

“Shelby is really bringing a lot of confidence and leadership to our defense,” UT Tyler head coach Stefani Webb said. “She’s decided that she wants to be one of the best defenders out there and she has stepped up and become that. Our defense has just been incredible. The girls have a confidence and presence out there that is really great to see right now.”

Matthews scored an unassisted goal at the 74th minute to lift the Patriots to a 1-0 win over Hardin-Simmons last Saturday to open conference play. Matthews now has four goals through seven games for the Patriots who are off to the best start in program history. More...