Four Bulldogs earn WAC honor

Staff Reports
The Collegian

Four Bulldogs have been named as WAC’s players of the week. It is the first such honor for women’s soccer goalie Angie Larsen and cross country’s Andrea Buckner. Football’s Clint Stitser was named special teams player of the week and Richard Marshall was named the defensive player of the week for the second time in his career.

“I can’t remember the last time there’s been that many athletes honored in one week,” said Steve Weakland, assistant athletics director for communications. “We haven’t had that in a few years. It’s a great tribute to all the fall sports.”

Larsen is the first Fresno State player to be named since September 2004 when Cortney Sobrero received the honor for registering three goals in one game.

Larsen, who recently won the starting goalie position, played a key role in Fresno State sweeping two WAC wins this weekend by posting two shut-outs. She had three saves against the Idaho Vandals and two against Boise State.

“I found out from one of my teammates, I had no idea,” said Larsen, who is playing in her first season as a Bulldog.

“It’s definitely a good feeling to get noticed. For sure, I hope there’s more to come. I’m going to keep pushing and hope to get more shut-outs.”

Buckner finished seventh overall among a 118-runner field at the Cal Poly Invitational with a time of 18:13 in the 5K race. She has been the top finisher in all five meets this season.

Buckner ran a career best at the UC Riverside Invitational with a time of 18:11. Because of her, Fresno State captured the CSU Stanislaus Invitational title. It was the first time Fresno State has won a meet since 2003.

In last week’s victory over Utah State, Stitser made all three of his field goal attempts, including a career–long, 44-yarder. He also completed all six extra points in the win. Now 9-of-11 on field goals this season, Stitser ranks 11th in the nation and NCAA in scoring with an average of 10.6 points .

Marshall had a team-high six tackles, returned a fumble for 17 yards and intercepted a pass in last week’s win. Marshall helped hold the Aggies to just 107 yards of offense in the first three quarters.

This is the first time two football players were honored in the same week since the final game of the 2002 season, when Rodney Davis and Asen Asparuhov received the title. Stitser and Mathis are also the third and fourth Bulldog to be named the WAC’s player of the week. Bryson Sumlin was the recipient of that honor Oct. 3 and Clifton Smith received that honor for special teams after having two touchdown punt returns in the opening game against Weber State.

“Richard was a big factor last week and I think it was a culmination of what Clint was doing,” football head coach Pat Hill said. “He’s been doing well all season. He just had another good game.”

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