Frisco, Texas (Oct. 12, 2016) – North Texas Soccer alums Valiree Morris (University of Tulsa), Kristen Ricks (University of Central Arkansas) and Sydney Newton (Abilene Christian University) received Players of the Week accolades from their respective NCAA Division I Conferences.
Sophomore defender Kristen Ricks was named the Southland Conference’s Defender of the Week after helping her Central Arkansas side to hand Stephen F. Austin State University its first conference loss. Ricks, who is from Keller, Texas, has started every match for Central Arkansas and is second on the team in minutes played, while adding two assists in 14 games.
Before playing for Central Arkansas, Ricks played club soccer for Sting and Fort Worth FC. Ricks competed in the Lake Highlands Girls Classic League from 2007-2015 and reached the finals of the 2013 US Youth Soccer North Texas State Cup in 2013 with Fort Worth FC 97 White.
Newton joins Ricks in receiving Southland Conference accolades as the senior was named Goalkeeper of the Week after recording a 3-0 shutout against Houston Baptist University. The Mansfield, Texas native has earned four shutouts in Abilene Christian’s six conference game this season and has started 12 of ACU’s 14 matches.
Newton played youth soccer with Sting and FC Dallas and competed in the Classic League from 2008-2013. With FC Dallas, Newton placed fifth in the 2012 US Youth Soccer Southern Regional Premier League West Division and finished second in her group at the 2013 North Texas State Cup.
Morris, a freshman from Wylie, Texas, earned the American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week after scoring her first three goals of the season. Morris scored both goals in Tulsa’s 2-1 victory over Eastern Carolina University and netted the eventual game-winner against the University of Cincinnati as Tulsa won 2-0. Morris has appeared in 13 of Tulsa’s 14 matches this season. Morris spent her youth days playing for FC Dallas.
Previous North Texas Soccer Players of the Week
For the latest North Texas Soccer News, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.