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LOGAN, Utah -- After winning the Western Athletic Conference regular season with a perfect 7-0-0 record, the Utah State soccer team was honored by placing seven players on the all-WAC team as voted on by the league's eight coaches, as well as earning the WAC Coach of the Year honor.
USU head coach Heather Cairns became the first Aggie soccer coach to earn WAC Coach of the Year honors. In her sixth season, Cairns has led the Aggies to school records in overall regular-season wins (12) and conference wins (7). USU also has won a school-record seven-straight matches.
Cairns is the third Utah State coach to earn a WAC Coach of the Year honors since along with cross country and track and field coach Gregg Gensel along with volleyball coach Grayson DuBose. USU joined the WAC in 2005.
Shantel Flanary became the first Utah State soccer player to win WAC Freshman of the Year. She is the second Utah State athlete to earn the honor after volleyball player Chelsea Fowles was named WAC Freshman of the Year in 2007. Flanary scored three goals and one assist for seven points in conference action.
"We have been fortunate to have our scoring distributed over several players," Cairns said. "Everyone brings something different and with Shantel (Flanary) it's her speed and her crossing ability. It's her courage to take on players 1-v-1. She's definitely capable of scoring."
The seven players on the all-WAC team were the most to make a conference postseason team since five Aggies earned all-Big West honors in 2003.
Junior defender Lindsey Smart was named on the all-WAC first-team for the second-straight season. With the honor, Smart becomes the first USU soccer player to earn all-conference honors three-straight seasons since Charity Weston (2004-2006), and the first to do it all in the WAC. Along with being part of the solid Aggie defense, Smart had five assists in WAC matches.
"(Lindsey) Smart means so much to our team," Cairns said, "She can play in the midfield, and she can play in the back. She might be the most respected player on our team and we have a lot of players that are respected. She's definitely a great defender, and she's been recognized as a great defender. But this year, we have challenged her to be a bit more of a playmaker for us."
Senior forward Candice Clark earned her second all-WAC award and first on the first-team after earning second-team honors last season. Clark had four goals and one assist for nine points in league matches. Freshman midfielder Chandra Salmon capped off a solid rookie campaign with first-team honors.
Four players were named to the all-WAC second-team, including sophomore striker Lauren Hansen who earned her second-straight second-team honor. Hansen ended WAC play with three goals and two assists for eight points. Flanary joined Hansen on the second-team, to become the third Aggie forward to earn all-WAC honors.
The strong USU defense that posted four shutouts in WAC matches had two players earn second-team all-conference accolades. Both defender Alyssa Lowry and goalkeeper Ali Griffin were named to the second-team. It was the first honor for both seniors.
Hawaii forward Taryn Fukuroku was named Offensive Player, while her Rainbow Wahine teammate, Nicole Mikula was named Defensive Player of the Year.
The top-seeded Aggies will begin play at the WAC Tournament in the semifinals on Friday, Nov. 7 at 4 p.m. (MT). USU will take on the winner of Thursday's quarterfinal match between No. 4 Boise State and No. 5 San Jose State.
(Press release from USU Athletics)
