(Arlington, Texas - Sept. 23) – Utah Tech's Abby Olsen was named the Jersey Mike's A Sub Above WAC Defensive Player of the Week, the Western Athletic Conference announced on Tuesday. It's the freshman defender's first career conference honor and UT's second WAC defensive player of the week this season. 

The native of South Weber, Utah, played the full 90 minutes for the first time in her collegiate career in a 2-1 Trailblazer victory over Portland State on Friday. Olsen and the Trailblazers limited PSU to five shots with just one on goal. That's the fewest shots on goal and the second-fewest shots allowed by the UT defense in a single match this season.

Olsen has started eight of her nine appearances, playing in every game and totaling 512 minutes this season. She scored her first career goal at CSUN on Aug. 28. 

Utah Tech (4-3-2, 0-0-0 WAC) is back in action on Sunday, Sept. 28, for its conference opener at Southern Utah (1-5-2, 0-0-0 WAC) in Cedar City, Utah. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Thunderbird Soccer Field, and the match will be streamed on ESPN+. 

WAC Women's Soccer Award Winners for Sept. 23
Offensive Player of the Week: Whitney Gardner, Southern Utah
Defensive Player of the Week: Abby Olsen, Utah Tech
Goalkeeper of the Week: Mikayla O'Brien, California Baptist

Previous WAC Defensive Players of the Week
Katy Gregson, Abilene Christian (Sept. 16)
Kaitlyn Flanagan, Tarleton State (Sept. 9)
Michelle Rodriguez, Utah Tech (Sept. 2)
McCarly Holloman, Abilene Christian (Aug. 26)
Taylor Nelson, Utah Valley (Aug. 19)