This week's Missouri Valley Conference women's soccer awards go to Amanda Cassidy of Loyola; Kelsie Stone of Drake; and Caitlin Richards of UNI.
Women's Soccer Weekly Notebook (PDF)
Offensive Player of the Week
Amanda Cassidy, Loyola
So., MF/F, Maple Grove, Minn.
The Loyola sophomore midfielder/forward accounted for three overall points in the Ramblers’ 3-2 win over in-state rival Illinois State on Sunday afternoon at Loyola Soccer Park. After assisting on sophomore Olivia Knab’s go-ahead goal, Cassidy opened her 2021 account in the 28th minute, directing home a feed from senior Freya Glen, a goal which would prove to be the game-winner. The Maple Grove, Minn. native has started in all five games this spring for the Maroon & Gold following a freshman campaign in which she tallied two goals and an assist.
Defensive Player of the Week
Kelsie Stone, Drake
Sr., GK, Hoffman Estates, Ill.
Stone tied a school record with her 14 saves against Valpo in the 1-1 draw last week. Her school-record 14 saves are the most in the Valley this season and tied for the fourth-most in the nation. Notably, she started the counterattack to the penalty kick against Valpo by claiming Valpo’s corner and quickly punting the ball to release to Alison Walls on the break.
Freshman of the Week
Caitlin Richards, UNI
Fr., GK, Elmhurst, Ill.
Richards recorded her 4th shutout of the season last week as the Panthers blanked Southern Illinois on Sunday. Richards played 73 minutes in the net in the 5-0 victory, recording 1 save.
DU-MSU Postponed
The Missouri Valley Conference has postponed the Drake-Missouri State women’s soccer match (March 24) in Des Moines, Iowa, due to COVID-19 issues within Drake’s Tier I personnel, which consists of student-athletes, coaches, managers and staff. The Conference will announce a make-up date for the match at a later date. In the event any league match is not played, league standings will be determined by points per match (not total points).
- MVC Matches Scheduled/Played: 36/19
- MVC Matches Postponed/Rescheduled: 2/0
- Games Canceled: 0
INS .. Back at It
After not playing a match last weekend, Indiana State (3-1) is back at this week with a pivotal match against league-leading Loyola on Wednesday followed up by a Saturday match against Missouri State in Springfield. The Sycamores last won three matches in league play in 2013 when they were 4-2 and earned second place. ISU was 4-3 in 2004, but it has never had more than 12 points in a season.
UE ... Excellent Defense
The Purple Aces have given up just one goal through its first three contests. The resulting .300 goals-against-average ranks 17th in the nation, while also having a .947 save percentage that the UE goalkeepers have accumulates, which ranks ninth in the NCAA. Evansville hold a 232 minute streak of not allowing a goal, which dates back to the single goal give up this season at the 68-minute mark against Illinois State on Feb. 27.
LUC .. Summit Meeting
Loyola can go a long way towards cementing its third straight Missouri Valley Conference regular season title on Wednesday afternoon when it visits Terre Haute, Ind. for a midweek test against Indiana State, which sits just four points behind the Ramblers in the MVC table. The Maroon & Gold enter Wednesday’s matinee riding an impressive 15-game unbeaten run in MVC regular season contests.
ILS .. Tough Stretch
Despite recording their third multi-goal game of the year, the Redbirds fell short to Loyola on Sunday afternoon, 3-2. Illinois State’s three-game losing streak is currently it’s longest winless streak in league play since 2006 (when the Redbirds either earned a draw or lost in five-consecutive games).
VALPO .. Earning Results
Halfway through the MVC schedule, Valpo has earned three results in four conference matches, picking up a win and two draws. That already ties the most results for Valpo in a single conference slate since joining the MVC.
DU .. Walls Connects
Junior forward Alison Walls scored the lone goal in the Bulldogs draw, 1-1, against Valpo (March 19). The goal, a converted penalty kick, was the first of her season and fourth of her career..
SIU ... In the Net
Keeper Maddy Alaluf is ranked second in the MVC in shutouts, recording three in the five games played by the Salukis. Her 0.58 goals against average is third best in the Conference, while her save percentage also ranks third. She did not play in the 5-0 loss to UNI.
UNI .. Panthers Blank SIU
Forward Ashley Harrington led the Panther attack in a 5-0 win over Southern Illinois on Sunday. Harrington scored a goal and recorded 1 assist on the day. Harrington took 2 shots and 2 shots on goal. Defensively, Sandra Thiman led a Panther defense that did not surrender a single goal last week, the team’s fourth shutout of the season. Thiman was also involved in the Panther attack against Southern Illinois, recording 2 shots in goal and scoring a goal in the 54th minute, her second goal of the season.
MSU .. Bears Notch 3-1 Win
Jacqueline Baetz was a force offensively in Friday’s 3-1 win over Missouri Southern. The St. Louis, Mo., product totaled five shots throughout the match while also assisting Abby Couch’s goal in the 16th minute of play to give the Bears the 1-0 lead early. It was Crouch’s first goal of her career.