Courtesy of LA Tech University Communications
Cross Country
Freshmen Brayden Vining and Mallory Swint and sophomore Delaney Lopez were named Conference USA’s Cross Country Athletes of the Week, per the league’s release Tuesday afternoon. This is the first weekly cross country award for all three athletes’ careers.
Vining was named the Men’s Cross Country Athlete and Freshman of the Week after securing a first-place finish and helping lead the men to a team win in the Grambling XC Invite on October 9.
He ran under 16:30 in his first 5k race as a collegiate athlete and was just under five seconds shy of his personal best set during his high school career.
Lopez saw a first-place finish in the women’s race, landing her first career victory in just her fourth attempt running the 5k in her college career.
Swint rounded out the top five and helped secure one of the three top five spots in the race for the Bulldogs, helping the women lock down the team win in Thursday’s race.
The Bulldogs’ men’s and women’s cross country teams round out the regular season on Friday, October 17 at the Watson Collegiate Classic hosted by Mississippi College in Clinton, Miss. before traveling to Huntsville, Alabama for the CUSA Championships on Saturday, November 1.
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Soccer
Sophomore defender Mary Helen Burford has been named Conference USA’s Defensive Player of the Week, per the league office’s release Tuesday afternoon.
This is the first time in Burford’s career to receive Player of the Week honors and the second time this season a Bulldog has received the award following Madeline Gray being named Defensive Player of the Week on September 23.
“This speaks highly of Mary Helen’s performance on Saturday night in a tough environment,” head coach Steve Voltz said. “She’s been just a steady presence in our back four the entire season. I’m super happy and proud of her accomplishment.”
Burford saw 86 minutes on the back line in a 2-1 comeback victory on the road at New Mexico State, playing a crucial role in maintaining the Aggies’ attack Saturday night in Las Cruces. She saw a series of deflections, headers and tackles to withstand the home team’s offense.
The Shreveport native has gone the distance in 10 matches this season including seven-straight prior to Saturday’s match, and has played at least 85 minutes in 12 of her 15 starts.
Burford and the Bulldogs continue in the final stretch of the regular season facing Missouri State and FIU on the road this week. LA Tech takes on the Bears in Springfield on Thursday, October 16 at 7 p.m. CT before traveling to Miami to play the Panthers on Sunday, October 19 at 1 p.m. CT.
