Women's Soccer

MVC Women's Soccer Weekly Notebook -- 9-30-2025

After three league matches, Drake holds sole possession of first place with seven points (2-0-1).  Southern Illinois (2-1-0) is one point back in the standings.

The league’s .547 non-conference winning percentage is the second-best in the league’s 31-year history sponsoring women’s soccer.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK:  Reagan Ross, Belmont
DEFENDER OF THE WEEK:  Brooklyn Woods, Indiana State
GOALKEEPER OF THE WEEK:  Madi Valenti, Illinois State
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK:  Allison Flies, UNI
 
  • Illinois State (1-0-2) is unbeaten through 3 league matches, marking the longest unbeaten streak to start Valley play since 2019.
  • Belmont scored often and early in its 4-1 victory against UNI on Sunday -- the four goals are the most for the Bruins since beating Valpo last October, 4-0.
  • Eve Blakey scored the lone tally in a 1-0 win on Sunday in the road win at Murray State.  The goal marked her team-leading eighth of the season, which already surpasses her total from 2024.  The eight goals is second-best in the MVC this year.  Her four game-winning tallies ranks No. 4 nationally.
  • Murray State fell to preseason favorite Drake on Sunday, 1-0, ending its six-match unbeaten streak, the Racers’ longest since winning six straight from Aug. 20 to Sept. 14, 2017.
  • UE’s Allie Lammers set a career-high with six saves against Indiana State despite only playing the second half.  Taylor Wehrer scored her team-leading fourth goal of the season at Southern Illinois. Her 4 goals are the most by an Ace in a single season since 2022.
  • UNI’s Macy Smith’s goal in the 60th minute against Belmont was her team-high fourth of the season and 15th of her career, tying her with Sarah Brandt (2014-17) and Sydney Hayden (2016-19) for sixth on UNI’s all-time scoring list.
  • UIC's Riley Collett tallied her first goal of the season, scoring in the 14th minute against Indiana St., leading to the first of two 1-1 draws for the Flames for the week.
  • SIU’s Dana Nadda scored the game-tying goal in SIU’s 2-1 defeat of Evansville on Thursday. She has the team lead in goals this season with four.
  • Valpo’s Kiara Desiderio scored her team-best sixth goal of the season to open the scoring in the draw at UIC. Her six goals leads all MVC freshmen and ranks third-best in the MVC.
  • Indiana State senior defender Brooklyn Woods netted her third goal of the season in the Sycamores’ 2-0 road win at Evansville, playing the full 90 minutes and converting a penalty kick for the game-winner. She now sits tied for the team lead with nine points on the season.

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PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Reagan Ross, Belmont, So., F, Lewis Center, Ohio / Olentangy HS
Ross continued to be an offensive catalyst for Belmont this week, scoring once and adding an assist in the Bruins’ 4-1 victory over UNI.  The sophomore forward has started all 11 matches this season, ranking second on the team with five points on two goals and one assist. Ross has generated 16 shots, with five on target, and already notched one game-winning goal. Her consistent attacking presence has been a key factor in Belmont’s balanced offense through conference play

DEFENDER OF THE WEEK
Brooklyn Woods, Indiana State, Sr., D, Waukee, Iowa / Waukee HS
Woods netted her third goal of the season in the Sycamores’ 2-0 road win at Evansville, playing the full 90 minutes and converting a penalty kick for the game-winner.  The Sycamores yielded just one goal in 180 minutes of action this past week.

GOALKEEPER OF THE WEEK
Madi Valenti, Illinois State, R-So., GK, St. Charles, Mo. / Francis Howell Central
Recorded her 10th and 11th career shutouts last week and moved to sixth all-time for career shutouts in school history. Valenti tallied seven saves against Southern Illinois in the 2-0 win on Sunday.  She helped the Redbirds record back-to-back shutouts and four shutouts in the last five matches and also helped Illinois State extend its unbeaten streak to five games, the longest since 2019 and most under Raleigh DeRose. She is tied for 13th in the country for shutouts.

FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Allison Flies, UNI, RS-Fr., D, Apple Valley, Minn. / Eastview HS
Flies netted the game-tying goal in UNI’s 1-1 draw at Murray State in the 87th minute of action -- it was her second career goal after redshirting at Utah Tech in 2024 and joining the Panthers in the offseason.  She was the only UNI player to play all 90 minutes in both MVC road matches this week at Murray State and Belmont.