BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week
Katie Soderstrom, Butler, So., M
Soderstrom tied for the BIG EAST high with eight points last week, totaling two goals and four assists in wins over Morehead State and IUPUI. The sophomore assisted on two first-half goals in Thursday’s win at Morehead State, before going for two goals and two assists in Sunday’s home win over IUPUI. Soderstrom’s strike at the 25-minute mark against the Jaguars proved to be the game-winning goal and came just 40 seconds after her first goal of the season. She added two more helpers to wrap up the six-point evening. Soderstrom tallied four shots in each game last week as well.
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week
Annika Schmidt, Butler, R-Sr., D
Schmidt led the defense in a 2-0 week for the Bulldogs as RV Butler scored a 3-0 win at Morehead State and 4-1 home victory over IUPUI. The Bulldogs outshot their opponents by a 38-9 margin, including 22-4 on goal, while holding both squads without a single corner kick. Schmidt added a flair of offense as well, scoring in Butler’s win over IUPUI on Sunday.
BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week
Hensley Hancuff, Villanova, So., GK
Hancuff posted a 1-0-1 record last week, including a shutout victory over 24
th-ranked LSU on Thursday. The sophomore made five saves against the Tigers, playing all 90 minutes. In Sunday’s 1-1 double-overtime draw with Saint Joseph’s, Hancuff made two saves to pick up the draw. For the week she posted an .875 save percentage and 0.45 goals against average, both tops among BIG EAST keepers.
BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
Jackie Richards, Xavier, Fr., F
Richards had an eventful opening weekend to collegiate soccer, earning the start against reigning Ohio Valley champions Murray State on Thursday before scoring the game-winning goal against MAC champs Bowling Green on Sunday. The rookie helped Xavier improve to 2-0 thanks to her strike in the 52
nd minute against the Falcons. Richards was the lone BIG EAST newcomer to notch a game-winning goal during the opening week of play. She added two shots on the week.
BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Amanda Carolan, Georgetown, Grad., F
Carolan led the seventh-ranked Hoyas with two goals last week, scoring the game winner at James Madison on Thursday before adding a score against No. 21 NC State on Sunday.
Samantha Dewey, Xavier, R-Sr., M
Dewey got off to a hot start last week, scoring all four goals in a 4-3 win at Murray State on Thursday. The recently crowed BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year pounded the reigning Ohio Valley champions with 10 shots. Dewey added two shots in the Musketeers’ win over Bowling Green on Sunday.
Taryn Jakubowski, Creighton, Sr., M
Jakubowski started a three-goal rally for Creighton, which found themselves in an early 2-0 hole against visiting Kansas State on Friday. The senior converted a penalty kick in the 45
th minute, starting a string of three consecutive goals for the Bluejays who scored a 3-2 season-opening win.
Christina Rodgers, Providence, Jr., M
Rodgers led the Friars in their 2-1 win over UConn on Thursday, tallying three points off a goal and an assist. Her penalty kick in the 43
rd minute proved to be the game winner. She added a shot in Sunday’s setback to UMass.
Stephanie Rodriguez, Butler, Jr., GK
Rodriguez posted the second-best goals against average in the BIG EAST last week, registering a 0.50 mark in a 2-0 weekend. The junior totaled three saves in wins over Morehead State and IUPUI, including a shutout of the Eagles.