UTEP soccer’s Macey Williams named Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week

LAS VEGAS, Nevada - UTEP junior Macey Williams has been selected as the Mountain West Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday.

It is the first career weekly honor for the Saint Peter’s transfer. 

Williams was an impact player on both ends of the pitch, scoring the match winner and defending with vigor while playing all 90 minutes of the match in UTEP’s 2-1 triumph over Air Force that propelled the Miners into a tie for second place in the Mountain West standings.

She anchored the back line that slowed down the Falcons’ prolific attack, which had entered the contest at 2.1 goals per game. 

“Macey has been an absolute rock for us this season,” UTEP head coach Gibbs Keeton said. “She’s strong, reliable, and she brings a level of composure and consistency to our back line that our team can depend on. Macey's game-winning goal against Air Force was a huge moment, and it was a reflection of the impact she’s been making on both sides of the ball. She’s given us goals and assists while continuing to be a tremendous presence at center back. As a transfer, Macey has fit seamlessly into our group and has been the perfect partner in our center-back pairing. Macey and our team are very deserving of any and all defensive recognition.”

She hammered home a header early in the second half off a corner kick to break a 1-1 deadlock in the eventual 2-1 win.

The center back cleared away services, tightly marked attackers, and helped keep the Falcons scoreless in the second half.

Both of her shots were on target, including the game-winning goal that blistered into the lower left part of the goal.

With the outcome, UTEP (8-1-3, 2-1 MW) remained unbeaten at home (5-0) and secured its best start to conference play in six years.

UTEP will look to continue its winning ways at Hawai’i at 3 p.m. HT/7 p.m. MT on Sunday.