IRVING, Texas – The American Conference has announced the weekly women’s soccer honors for the first week of the 2026 season.
Offensive Player of the Week
Allie Metcalf, Jr., F, Charlotte
Metcalf scored a pair of goals for 2-0-0 Charlotte during the opening week of the season. Metcalf connected on the winning penalty in the 78th minute of a 2-1 win over Furman before finding an insurance goal in the 57th minute of a 2-0 shutout of Radford.
Defensive Player of the Week
Rachel Logue, 5th, D, Charlotte
Logue helped anchor a Charlotte back line that surrendered one goal over its first two wins. The 49ers limited Furman and Radford to only eight total shots on goal for the week, shutting out Radford on only three attempts on frame.
Goalkeeper of the Week
Kirsten Ruf, Sr., Rice
Ruf led all conference goalkeepers with an .833 save percentage and ranked second in total saves (10) and third in goals against average (1.00) during the opening week. After making six saves in a hard luck 2-1 defeat against Texas A&M, Ruf logged four stops and provided a primary assist on the second Rice goal in a 3-0 shutout of Navy.
Freshman of the Week
Anna Ford, GK, Charlotte
Ford made two appearances in goal for Charlotte during the debut weekend, playing the final 45 minutes of the 2-1 win against Furman and stopping three shots in the first match as a starter to earn the 2-0 shutout over Radford.
Honorable Mention
Avery Berryman, Sr., F, UAB
Berryman was tied for the conference lead with five points (two goals, one assist) after a 1-1 UAB week, highlighted by a goal and an assist in a win over Georgia State.
Lauryn Taylor, Jr., F, East Carolina
Taylor assisted on both East Carolina goals in a 2-2 draw at UNC Greensboro, adding a shot on goal.
Lauren Pickup, Sr., M, Rice
Pickup scored a goal in each of Rice’s starts last week, finding the lone goal in a 2-1 loss to Texas A&M and adding an insurance score in a 3-0 shutout of Navy.
Leah Varela, R-So., M, UTSA
Varela played the full 180 minutes for UTSA in a pair of 2-2 draws with Texas State and TCU, tallying an assist in each match.
Brooklyn Bumgardner, Jr., D, Tulsa
Bumgardner scored first career goal, tallying the winner in the 86th minute of a 2-1 victory over Central Arkansas.