This week's MVC women's soccer players of the week are Megan Nemec of Loyola; Nikki Coryell of Valparaiso; and MacKenzie Kent of Indiana State.
Women's Soccer Weekly Notebook (PDF)
Offensive Player of the Week
Megan Nemec, Loyola
Jr., M/F, Tinley Park, Ill.
Loyola junior Megan Nemec continued to cement her spot at the top of The Valley's overall points leaderboard in the Ramblers' two road wins last week. After being credited with her team-best fourth assist of the year in Wednesday's 3-1 triumph over Evansville, Nemec netted the deciding goal in Sunday's 4-1 win at Drake, slotting home her team-high sixth goal of the year in the 40th minute. The Tinley Park, Ill. native is currently tied for the MVC lead in goals, while also sitting as part of a three-way tie for second in assists.
Defensive Player of the Week
Nikki Coryell, Valparaiso
So., GK, Aurora, Ill.
Coryell surrendered just one goal in 180 minutes of action to help Valpo improve to a perfect 4-0-0 at the halfway mark of the conference schedule. She opened the week with a five-save performance in a shutout of Southern Illinois, and then stopped seven shots on Sunday in the Beacons' win at Missouri State. While her streak of three consecutive clean sheets came to an end against the Bears, Coryell came up with a huge leaping save to her right in the 75th minute on Sunday to preserve the 2-1 lead, the eventual margin of victory.
Freshman of the Week
Mackenzie Kent, Indiana State
Fr., F, Aurora, Ind.
The Sycamores freshman forward scored twice in Indiana State’s 4-1 win over Evansville on Sunday. She is now tied for third in the MVC with four goals. She leads the Sycamores with 10 points on the season.
LUC .. Ordering A Dozen
Following Amanda Cassidy's second-half tally against Drake on Sunday afternoon, 12 different Ramblers have now tallied a goal this season. That group is led by reigning Valley Player of the Year Megan Nemec, who has a team-high six goals to her name, a mark that is tied for the MVC lead.
VU .. Looking Like 2014
The program's current form is looking a lot like the team's 2014 campaign, when it posted a perfect 8-0-0 mark in Horizon League play. Valpo has won five matches in a row, its longest winning streak since winning 12 in a row in 2014. The Beacons have won four consecutive road matches, their longest winning streak in true road matches since winning seven straight as the visitor in 2014. Dating back to last season, the program has won six straight regular season MVC matches, its longest winning streak in league regular season play since the 2014 side won all eight Horizon League matches.
ILS .. Tops In The Valley
Illinois State is the only team in the MVC with multiple players with three-plus goals and three players with three-plus assists as fifth-year senior Natalie Vaughn-Low has five goals and senior Riley O'Brien has three goals. Fifth-year senior Sarah LaFayette, senior Logan Ziegler, and O'Brien all have three assists.
UE .. Till Moves Closer
With four saves against Indiana State on Sunday, fifth-year senior Michaela Till now sits just 22 saves away from tying the program’s all-time save record. The Avon, Ind. native sits poised to finish her career in the top three in career saves, career games played, and career shutouts.
INS .. Moving Up The Ranks
Indiana State took down Evansville 4-1 on Sunday to earn their first MVC win of the season. The Sycamores put up 11 points as a team which is the most in a match since they recorded 18 in an 8-0 win over Chicago State on September 16, 2018.
MSU .. Sharp Shooters
The Bears currently rank 23rd nationally and first in the MVC, putting 55.8 percent of their shots on goal.
UNI .. Game-Winning Firsts
Lily Caso's game-winning goal on Sunday afternoon against Illinois State was her first game-winning goal in her career as a Panther. Caso has one other goal on the season from UNI's game against Viterbo on August 21st.
DU .. Drake Advances to 5-4-4
The Bulldogs tied Indiana State 1-1 on Sept. 29. Emma bagel scored for Drake on a penalty kick after Meghan Brown was fouled in the box. Despite losing 4-1 to Loyola, keeper Kelsie Stone set a new school record for most saves in a match with 18 and a career high of 30 shots faced. She tied the previous record last season, 14 saves, against Valpo. Drake heads to Illinois to take on SIUE Saturday.
SIU .. Clean Sheet Battle
With a short turnaround from Saturday’s match to Wednesday night, the Salukis fell 0-2 to Valparaiso holding the Beacons scoreless for 74 minutes. Aside from the 0-0 double-overtime draw with North Alabama, this was the longest clean sheet for SIU thus far that drew in nine shots and nine saves.
LUC .. Senior Moment
Prior to Saturday's 1 p.m. tilt with Missouri State at Loyola Soccer Park, Loyola will honor its senior class in a special ceremony. Over the past three-plus seasons, the Rambler seniors have racked up 41 victories as part of a stretch that has been highlighted by three straight sweeps of the MVC regular season and tournament titles, in addition to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.
ILS .. Draw-Free
Despite playing five overtime matches (all of which have ended in the first overtime), the Redbirds are the only team in the MVC without a draw. There are 95 teams in Division I without a draw, through October 3.
INS .. Can’t Stop Kent
Mackenzie Kent (Fr, F, Aurora, Ind.) continues to lead the Sycamore attack this season, leading the team with 10 points. She scored two goals on Sunday against Evansville to give her four on the season which is tied for third in the MVC.