Coppinger Continues Streak with ACU's 4th Straight UAC Award
9/21/2026 2:05:00 PM | Women's Soccer
The Abilene Christian soccer team continues to dominate the United Athletic Conference weekly awards as Audrey Coppinger was named the UAC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday.
It is the fourth consecutive time a Wildcat has won the conference's defensive honor, and the second straight for Coppinger.
The freshman from Kansas City, Mo., scored her second career goal in the 6th minute of ACU's 5-0 win over Texas Southern on Sunday. Coppinger was also part of the back line which secured the fifth shutout of the season which have all come in the past six games.
"It's great to get our fourth player of the week award this year, and for Coppy to get her second," ACU head coach Stephen Salas said. "Although the main honor for this award is defensive recognition, it was because of her ability to attack and score with her head on the second goal of the game. This was Coppy's second goal of the season, and both were off corners. We've emphasized capitalizing on set pieces, and we did so on three of the five goals this weekend.
"Coppy has put in work to get better each practice and game, which shows in the freedom she is playing with while also growing within the disciplines of the backline. This is our fifth shutout of the season out of eight games, which shows the commitment to defending across the backline and in goal. It's good to see us going into conference play in good form on both sides of the ball."
The Wildcats (3-2-3) begin conference play with a road swing with matches at Little Rock (Thursday, 7 p.m.) and Tarleton State (Sunday, 1 p.m.). Both games will stream on ESPN+.
ACU's next game at Elmer Gray Stadium is Sunday, Oct. 4 at 1 p.m. vs. Central Arkansas.
Wildcats' UAC Weekly Award Winners
Aug. 31 - Goalkeeper of the Week, Bella Medrano; Defensive Player of the Week, Gracie Kelley
Sept. 8 - Defensive Player of the Week, Baylie Simon
Sept. 14 -Â Defensive Player of the Week, Audrey Coppinger
Sept. 21 -Â Defensive Player of the Week, Audrey Coppinger
It is the fourth consecutive time a Wildcat has won the conference's defensive honor, and the second straight for Coppinger.
The freshman from Kansas City, Mo., scored her second career goal in the 6th minute of ACU's 5-0 win over Texas Southern on Sunday. Coppinger was also part of the back line which secured the fifth shutout of the season which have all come in the past six games.
"It's great to get our fourth player of the week award this year, and for Coppy to get her second," ACU head coach Stephen Salas said. "Although the main honor for this award is defensive recognition, it was because of her ability to attack and score with her head on the second goal of the game. This was Coppy's second goal of the season, and both were off corners. We've emphasized capitalizing on set pieces, and we did so on three of the five goals this weekend.
"Coppy has put in work to get better each practice and game, which shows in the freedom she is playing with while also growing within the disciplines of the backline. This is our fifth shutout of the season out of eight games, which shows the commitment to defending across the backline and in goal. It's good to see us going into conference play in good form on both sides of the ball."
The Wildcats (3-2-3) begin conference play with a road swing with matches at Little Rock (Thursday, 7 p.m.) and Tarleton State (Sunday, 1 p.m.). Both games will stream on ESPN+.
ACU's next game at Elmer Gray Stadium is Sunday, Oct. 4 at 1 p.m. vs. Central Arkansas.
Wildcats' UAC Weekly Award Winners
Aug. 31 - Goalkeeper of the Week, Bella Medrano; Defensive Player of the Week, Gracie Kelley
Sept. 8 - Defensive Player of the Week, Baylie Simon
Sept. 14 -Â Defensive Player of the Week, Audrey Coppinger
Sept. 21 -Â Defensive Player of the Week, Audrey Coppinger
Players Mentioned
Monday, September 21
Monday, September 21
Sunday, September 20
Saturday, September 19
