ALL-WEST REGION TEAMS

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For just the second time in program history, two Vandal soccer players were recognized by the coaches' association, with Kelly Dopke and Myah Merino earning United Soccer Coaches All-West Region honors.  Dopke was named to the second team, while Merino earned third team honors.
 
The duo are the first Vandals to earn recognition from the coaches' association since Kavita Battan was an All-Pacific Region Second Team selection in 2015.  Chelsea Small (2010, 2011, 2012) and Jill Flockhart (2010) are the only other Vandals to earn the recognition.
 
Dopke becomes just the third Vandal to earn second team honors, after Battan in 2015 and Small in 2010.  Dopke appeared in all 19 games, starting 18.  Dopke finished tied for second on the team with three goals, including two game-winners.  She was named the Big Sky Defensive Most Valuable Player and was named to the All-Big Sky First team.  Dopke also took home All-Tournament Team honors at the Big Sky Championship in Ogden.  Recently, Dopke was also named to the Google Cloud Academic All-District First Team, as presented by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).  Further announcements from CoSIDA on the final Academic All-America team will be announced next week.
 
Merino led the Vandals with five goals and 11 points on the year.  All five of her goals came in conference play, helping her earn All-Big Sky First Team honors.  Merino scored two game-winning goals, including the overtime winner against Idaho State.  Merino, a junior, has nine career goals and 19 career points.
 
Fans can stay up-to-date on all things Idaho soccer by following the team on Twitter and Instagram, @VandalsSoccer, or on Facebook by searching Idaho Vandals Women's Soccer.

For more information on Idaho Athletics, visit GoVandals.com. Fans can also find Idaho on Twitter and Instagram, @Idaho_Vandals, or on Facebook by searching Idaho Vandals.