When the Utah Blitzz signed Adolfo Ovalle before their inaugural season began, coach Chris Agnello had a hard time containing his excitement.
"We needed a player who could bring leadership and experience to the team," said Agnello back in April. "Ovalle can do just that."
Agnello wasn't the only coach who took notice. The 29-year-old Ovalle was named the D3 Pro League Defender of the Year by the United Soccer Leagues on Tuesday.
The Blitzz only allowed 20 goals this season, second fewest in the D3 behind Wilmington's league-low 19, and Ovalle was a big reason why. Ovalle's defensive prowess was a big reason why the Blitzz captured the Western Conference championship and advanced to the national semifinals.
PUTZ HEROICS: Former Bountiful High School star Caroline Putz was named the Pac-10 Player of the Week on Tuesday after scoring two game-winning goals for the University of Washington last week.
Putz scored in the 36th minute of the Huskies' 1-0 victory over 17th-ranked BYU on Friday, and while that was exciting, Monday's dramatics were even bigger. The junior forward scored in the 64th minute to help Washington snap No. 2 Santa Clara's 32-game home winning streak with a 2-1 victory.
This is Putz's first Pac-10 Player of the Week honor. Neither of those goals ranks up with Putz's all-time favorite. On July 7 she scored a goal for the U.S. women's national team during its 4-1 exhibition victory over Italy.
IS DRYER NEXT: Ashley Dryer, a former standout for West High School, will get her shot against Santa Clara when her Notre Dame team hosts the Broncos Friday.
Dryer, who starts for the fourth-ranked Irish, has already recorded a goal and an assist this year in Notre Dame's three victories.
Notre Dame's next two games are against Putz's Washington squad and then Portland University, featuring former Brighton High standout Pardis Ariazond.
PETERSON BACK TO FORM: BYU's Michelle Jensen Peterson was named the MWC Women's Soccer Player of the Week for last weekend's performance. She scored a goal and added two assists in the Cougars' 4-2 win over Montana and then added an assist in BYU's shutout victory against Washington State.
Peterson hasn't played since the 1997 season because she was serving an LDS mission in Portugal. Prior to her departure she was a two-time all-conference selection.
E-mail: jedward@desnews.com