Women's Soccer Weekly Notebook (PDF)
 
MVC Offensive Player of the Week
Abby Basler, R-So., MF, Illinois State (St. Louis, Mo.)
Basler scored two goals and added an assist in a week that saw Illinois State defeat Indiana State and Evansville, both by 3-1 decisions. In Wednesday’s match versus the Sycamores, Basler was credited with an assist on a corner kick, in which she sent in a phenomenal ball for sophomore Natalie Vaughn-Low to put away and give the Redbirds a 1-0 early lead. On Sunday, Basler scored a brace in Evansville, recording the game winning goal in the 77th minute and an insurance goal less than 10 minutes later to secure the victory. It was the second multi-goal game of Basler’s career, and the St. Louis native now has 11 points this season.
 
MVC Defensive Player of the Week
Madison Laudeman, Jr., D, Loyola (Chesterfield, Mo.)
Loyola junior Madison Laudeman played in every minute of both of the Maroon & Gold’s shutout victories this past week.  In Wednesday’s 2-0 blanking of Valparaiso, Laudeman provided one of the assists on Jenna Szczesny’s opening goal before notching a tally of her own during the second half, finishing off of a corner kick.  The Chesterfield, Mo. product has been a central figure in a Rambler defensive unit that owns a sparkling 0.82 goals against average since the start of Missouri Valley Conference play.
 
MVC Newcomer of the Week
Libby Helverson, Fr., MF, Drake (West Des Moines, Iowa)
Freshman Libby Helverson was the hero in Drake’s win over Indiana State Sunday with her first career goal. Helverson’s game-winner was a golden goal as it came in the 95th minute. It came after junior Shelley Lyjak’s took a shot and the Sycamores’ goalkeeper, Hannah Sullivan, was unable to hold onto the ball. Helverson was in the right spot as she tapped it in for the game-winner for Drake. Helverson, who led the Bulldogs with five shots against the Sycamores, has played in all 16 matches in her first season.
 
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: Alyssa Brand, Drake; Katie Wells, Indiana State; Madison Kimball, Loyola; Sydney Hayden, UNI
Defense: Kelsie Stone, Drake; Haley Smith, Illinois State; Jami Reichenberger, UNI
Newcomer: Emily Ormson, Evansville; Shaina Dudas, Illinois State; Aly Kilburg, Loyola