McNeese, Central Arkansas, Abilene Christian Earn Soccer Weekly Awards
Southland Conference
2018 Southland Soccer Week Three Notes (PDF)
FRISCO, Texas – McNeese’s Havana Johnson, Central Arkansas’ Kristen Ricks and Rachel Johnson of Abilene Christian are the Southland Conference Soccer Players of the Week, the league announced Tuesday. Southland weekly awards are presented by
MidSouth Bank.
McNeese (3-1-0) faces a pair of in-state rivals this week, hosting ULM on Friday at 7 p.m. CT and UL Lafayette on Sunday at 1 p.m. Central Arkansas (2-1-1) heads to Starkville to take on Mississippi State on Thursday at 7 p.m. and hosts Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sunday at 7 p.m. Abilene Christian (2-2-0) hosts New Mexico State on Sunday at 1 p.m. in its lone week three contest.
Offensive Player of the Week: Havana Johnson, McNeese – So. – Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Johnson scored the only goal against Texas State on only one shot in a 2-1 Cowgirls’ victory. She then netted the game winner for her third on the year and had an assist in the 3-2 double-overtime win against Arkansas. The victory over the Razorbacks gave McNeese its first ever win over an SEC opponent.
Honorable Mention: Connie Awuku-Darkoh, Abilene Christian; April Trowbridge, Northwestern State.
Defensive Player of the Week: Kristen Ricks, Central Arkansas – Sr. – Keller, Texas
Ricks led a stalwart UCA defense that picked up a pair of shutouts on the road this week. In Friday’s 2-0 win over ULM, she was a key part of a Bears defense that limited the Warhawks to just three shots on goal. She also picked up an assist on Connie Awuku-Darkoh’s 29th minute goal. On Sunday, the UCA defense allowed 18 shots, nearly all of which came from well outside the box as Missouri State was unable to penetrate the back line. Central Arkansas’ first goal of the day came off a counterattack initiated by Ricks, leading to another eventual 2-0 win.
Honorable Mention: Keely Morrow, McNeese; Megan Gordon, Southeastern Louisiana.
Goalkeeper of the Week: Rachel Johnson, Abilene Christian – Jr. – Coppell, Texas
Johnson registered her second shutout of the season and third of her career in a 1-0 overtime win against UTRGV. In a 1-0 loss at Texas Tech, it was the first goal allowed of the season in ACU’s third game played. Johnson and the Wildcats defense have not allowed a first-half goal in 2018. She totaled 15 saves on 34 shots faced through the week.
Honorable Mention: Lauren Mercuri, Central Arkansas; Gabrielle Christy, McNeese.
Southland weekly award winners are nominated and voted upon by each school’s sports information director. Voting for one’s own athlete is not permitted. To earn honorable mention, a student-athlete must appear on 25 percent of ballots.