Mean Green Freshmen Named C-USA Players of the Week

[Coach Andy Mac]

DALLAS — North Texas women's soccer freshmen Kat Burnell and Dani Jacobson earned Conference USA Player of the Week honors presented by Blenders Eyewear on Tuesday after the first week of season that saw the Mean Green win both of its matches by a combined score of 9-1. 

The C-USA Offensive Player of the Week, Burnell, scored a league-leading three goals last week and put a total of 11 shots on target, which is seven more than the next most in C-USA. The C-USA Goalkeeper of the Week, Jacobson, on Sunday shutout Oral Roberts and held Abilene Christian to one goal in the season opener.

The Keller native, Burnell, scored her first career hat trick on Sunday and needed just 13 minutes in the second half to score all three goals and help lead UNT to a 4-0 victory over ORU. The hat trick performance came just three days after Burnell fired off a North Texas single match freshman record 11 shots and seven shots on goal in UNT's 5-1 victory over ACU. 

Jacobson became the first North Texas freshman goalkeeper to earn a start since 2011 when UNT Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Jackie Kerestine earned her first career start. Over the two matches last week, Jacobson allowed just one goal and shutout ORU on Sunday. The Colorado native made four total saves over the two matches. Jacobson also led a UNT defensive backline that held its two opponents this week to 11 total shots. 

North Texas, the only remaining undefeated C-USA team, is off until Friday when they host Houston Baptist at 7 p.m. CT.