STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Tarleton State went full domination mode in Sunday's match against Little Rock, and the Purple and White nearly swept the United Athletic Conference weekly awards for its effort.
 
Zahra Friess was named the UAC Player of the Week, and Zoe Ballard was named the UAC Defensive Player of the Week following Tarleton State's 4-0 shutout win over Little Rock, the conference announced on Monday.
 
These awards were for matches played Oct. 19-25. Friess earned her second UAC Player of the Week award this season, and for Ballard this is her first defensive weekly award. The Texans now have seven weekly honors on the year, three for Jessica Baires, two for Friess, one for Ballard and one for Avery Mendez.
 
Friess had five points in Tarleton State's lone match on the week as she helped the Texans clinch a spot in the UAC Women's Soccer Championship. Friess had two goals and an assist, with three shots on goal, in the Texans' shutout win on Sunday at home. The Texans improved to 7-3-7 overall and 5-1-2 in UAC play. Friess had the tied-most points and the tied-most goals by a UAC player this week, along with teammate Jessica Baires. Friess had a season-high in points and in goals on Sunday, plus a tied-season-high in assists. She did it all in the first half, playing 60 minutes total in the match. Friess has the second most goals (nine), the second most points (22) and the third most assists (four) on the team. Friess has the second most goals (nine), the second most points (22) and the eighth most assists (four) in the UAC.
 
Ballard led a Texan defense that didn't allow a single shot in the first half, boosting the Texans to their third straight shutout victory. Ballard played all 90 minutes on Sunday and stifled the Trojans to no goals, just their second time being shutout in the month of October.
 
Tarleton State had the best goal differential among all UAC teams this week at +4. The Texans were one of two UAC teams to earn a victory, and were the only UAC team with multiple goals. On the season, the Texans have the most goals in the UAC with 36 (next closest is 27) with the best scoring average at 2.2 goals per match (next closest is 1.6).
 
Also recognized by the conference on Monday was North Alabama's Emily Dorfman (UAC Goalkeeper of the Week).
 
2026 Tarleton State Soccer UAC Player of the Week Awards:
Sept. 8, Player of the Week – Avery Mendez
Sept. 14, Player of the Week – Jessica Baires
Sept. 21, Player of the Week – Zahra Friess
Oct. 5, Player of the Week – Jessica Baires
Oct. 19, Player of the Week – Jessica Baires
Oct. 26, Player of the Week and Defensive Player of the Week – Zahra Friess and Zoe Ballard