IRVING, Texas – The American Conference has announced the weekly women’s soccer honors for the 11th week of the 2026 season.
Offensive Player of the Week
Claire Niedermeier, Jr., F, UNT
Niedermeier registered a second straight multi-goal performance, and fourth of the season, during a 2-2 draw at East Carolina. Niedermeier opened the scoring in the 10th minute and quickly added a second goal in the 13th minute to give UNT a 2-0 lead. Niedermeier would add four shot attempts (two on goal) in a 1-1 draw against first place Memphis.
Defensive Player of the Week
Penelope Rich, Jr., D, Charlotte
The Charlotte defense held UAB to five shots on goal on the road in a 2-2 win to clinch a conference tournament berth. Rich played the full 90 minutes on that defense and also scored the opening goal in the seventh minute.
Midfielder of the Week
Lucie Bertrand, Sr., Charlotte
Bertrand was tied for the Charlotte lead with three shot attempts and scored an insurance goal in the 55th minute of a 2-0 shutout of UAB to lock up a conference tournament slot for the 49ers.
Goalkeeper of the Week
Harlee Head, Grad, Charlotte
Head was credited with five saves, including four in the second half, to earn a 2-0 shutout at UAB, vaulting Charlotte into second place in the conference standings and officially into the league tournament.
Freshman of the Week
McKenna Battilla, F, South Florida
Battilla was impactful for South Florida in an unbeaten week, scoring a goal and adding an assist on five shots in a 4-0 rout of Rice. Battilla contributed five total shots once more for the Bulls in a scoreless draw at Tulsa.
Honorable Mention
Kathleen Ngulefac, Jr., F, Charlotte
Ngulefac provided assists on both Charlotte goals during a 2-0 victory at UAB to secure an American tournament bid for the 49ers.
Isabella Gutierrez, 5th, M, East Carolina
Gutierrez finished with a team-high three shots (two on goal) and opened the East Carolina scoring with a successful penalty kick in the 15th minute of an eventual 2-2 draw against UNT.
Georgia Guenther, Sr., D, UNT
Guenther scored the tying UNT goal in the 65th minute and helped limit first place Memphis to a single goal in a 1-1 draw.
Ana Zivkovic, Fr., GK, Temple
Zivkovic was credited with 17 total saves during a 1-1 Temple week, making six stops in a 1-0 shutout of Florida Atlantic before turning away 11 shots in a 1-0 defeat at UTSA.
Brooklyn Bailey, So., F, UTSA
Bailey was credited with 12 total shots (five on goal), believed to be the most shots by an individual player in an American match since at least 2014, in a 1-0 shutout of Temple.
Leah Varela, R-So., M, UTSA
Varela provided the match-winning goal on a successful penalty kick in the 40th minute of a 1-0 shutout of Temple.