Women's Soccer Weekly Notebook (PDF)
Strong 2017 Start
After two weeks of competition, the MVC has a combined record of .500 (14-14-2) in non-league play.
Undefeated Panthers
UNI has started the 2017 season with three straight victories on the road for the first time in school history.
Big Ten Foe
Illinois State defeated Big Ten opponent Illinois 2-0 on Sunday night. The Redbirds had not beaten Illinois since 2004.
MVC Offensive Player of the Week
Sarah Brandt, Sr. F, UNI (Ankeny, Iowa)
In both of UNI’s wins this weekend, senior Sarah Brandt got UNI on the board first. With Friday’s victory against Omaha, Brandt moved to No. 4 on the All-Time made goals list at UNI. Brandt has two goals on the season and two assists from this weekend.
MVC Defensive Player of the Week
Haley Smith, SO, GK, Illinois State (Fall River, Nova Scotia)
Smith earned a career-high 11 saves in Friday’s 1-0 loss at Saint Louis. She also earned her first shutout of the season with the 2-0 win against Illinois on Sunday, where she tallied 5 saves on the match.
MVC Newcomer of the Week
Kaitlin Maxwell, R-Fr., GK, Missouri State (Lincoln, Neb.)
Maxwell served as a brick house for the Bears once again, starting both matches against the Central Arkansas Bears and Little Rock Trojans this weekend. The newcomer picked up her first collegiate win, which was also her first shutout, Friday at Central Arkansas and eclipsed her previous single-game saves record with seven stops on the evening. She tallied five more against the Trojans on Sunday for a total of 12 over the weekend. With 21 total saves, Maxwell ranks third in the league while maintaining a .778 save percentage.
In addition to the league’s Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week and Newcomer of the Week selections, several conference players had notable performances, and they include:
Offense: Kelli Zickert, Illinois St. ; Alina Steffen, Indiana St. ; Sienna Cruz, Loyola; Mary Disidore, Missouri St.
Defense: Hannah Sullivan, Indiana St.; Taylor Lambouris, Loyola; Kaitlin Maxwell, Missouri St.
Newcomer: Sarah Lafayette, Illinois St.; Alina Steffen, Indiana St.; Kat Stephens, Loyola