IRVING, Texas – The American Athletic Conference has announced the weekly women’s soccer honors for the first week of the season.
Offensive Player of the Week
Olivia Alvarez, Sr., M/F, UTSA
Alvarez aided the Roadrunners to a pair of season-opening wins, scoring the game-winning penalty kick in the 51
st minute against Incarnate Word on Thursday, August 15, before providing an assist on the game-winning goal in a 2-1 win over Navy on Sunday, August 18.
Defensive Player of the Week
Abby Sowa, Sr., D/M, East Carolina
Sowa helped lead the Pirate defense to a 1-0 shutout at NC State, the first win for East Carolina in Raleigh since 2000. Sowa and the Pirate defense allowed only three shots on goal, while the senior also provided the game-winning goal in the 38
th minute.
Goalkeeper of the Week
Faith Hutchins, Gr., Rice
Hutchins helped lead the Owls to a pair of victories in the opening weekend, making a total of seven saves. The graduate student made four saves in the win over Texas State on Thursday and three more saves against Navy on Sunday.
Freshman of the Week
Ai Kitagawa, M, Memphis
Kitagawa scored the game-winning goal for the No. 10 Tigers in the 53
rd minute of a 2-0 win at Missouri on Sunday night.
Honorable Mention
Maeve English, Gr., GK, East Carolina
English made three second-half saves and earned a clean sheet in the Pirates’ 3-0 win at NC State on Sunday.
Ashley Henderson, So., F, Memphis
Henderson scored a brace in the Tigers’ 5-1 season-opening win over Alabama A&M on Thursday and provided an assist in Memphis’ 2-0 win over Missouri.
Finley Lavin, So., D, Memphis
Lavin aided the Tiger defense into allowing just two shots on goal over victories over Alabama A&M and Missouri. She also provided an assist in the win over Alabama A&M.
Kameron Kloza, R-Jr., D, UTSA
Kloza scored the game-winning goal against Navy on Sunday while also leading the defense into allowing six shots on goal over two victories.
Hannah Chance, R-Jr., F, Tulsa
Chance recorded five points with two goals and an assist in Tulsa’s 5-2 season-opening win over Central Arkansas.