IRVING, Texas – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of its weekly women’s lacrosse honors for the first week of the 2025 season.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE ATTACK PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kylie Gioia • Sr. • Charlotte • Broomall, Pa.
Gioia, a transfer from Cincinnati, was the key offensive player in Charlotte’s impressive 20-2 win against Gardner-Webb in the 49ers’ first game in program history. Gioia led Charlotte with seven points (4g, 3a) and had a team-high five draw controls. Gioia had hat trick in the first half as Charlotte scored the first 14 goals of the game.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE MIDFIELDER OF THE WEEK
Bailey Morris • RFr. • South Florida • Dublin, Ohio
Morris scored a game-high four goals and added three draw controls to lead South Florida to a 19-6 win against Kennesaw State in the Bulls’ inaugural game in front of more than 2,300 fans at Corbett Stadium. Morris scored a pair of second-quarter goals to help stake the Bulls to a 12-3 halftime lead and she scored back-to-back goals spanning the third and fourth periods to help South Florida put the game out of reach.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Emma Magazu • Sr. • East Carolina • Newtown, Conn.
A transfer from New Hampshire, Magazu was instrumental in East Carolina’s defensive effort which carried the Pirates to a 12-8 win against Queens in the season-opener. Magazu had game highs with five ground balls and four caused turnovers and stands as the early American Athletic Conference leader in caused turnovers while ranking second in ground balls.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE GOALKEEPER OF THE WEEK
Molly Joyce • Jr. • Vanderbilt • Macedon, N.Y.
Joyce made seven saves in her first career start to lead Vanderbilt to a 13-8 win at Cincinnati in the Commodores’ season-opener. She closed the door on the Bearcats in the fourth quarter, making three stops to allow Vanderbilt to turn a 9-8 lead into a comfortable five-goal victory.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Sarah Murrell • M • Fr. • Old Dominion • Perryville, Md.
Murrell keyed Old Dominion’s 13-6 win against Longwood as she scored four goals on five shots and added 10 draw controls in her first career game. She added a goal and three draw controls in the Monarchs’ 14-10 win at Wofford to close the week and sits as the early conference leader with 13 draw controls in 2025.
HONORABLE MENTION
Claire Schotta • A • Gr. • Charlotte • Charlottesville, Va.
Scored a game-high four goals in a 20-2 win against Gardner-Webb.
Jaime Behar • G • Jr. • East Carolina • Mineola, N.Y.
Made eight saves and allowed eight goals in a 12-8 win at Queens.
Megan Hopfensperger • A • So. • Old Dominion • Brentwood, Tenn.
Scored three goals with four assists and two ground balls in a 2-0 week.
Sofia Chepenik • A • So. • South Florida • Palm Coast, Fla.
Scored four goals with two assists and two draw controls in a 19-6 win against Kennesaw State.
Maddie Barkate • A • Gr. • Vanderbilt • San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
Scored three goals with three assists and four draw controls in a 13-8 win at Cincinnati.