Texas A&M-Commerce’s Sophia Dean & Nya Mitchell, and Lamar’s Hollie Massey earn Week 7 Women’s Soccer Players of the Week honors.
FRISCO, Texas – A&M-Commerce’s Sophia Dean & Nya Mitchell, and Lamar’s Hollie Massey have won this week’s Jersey Mike’s Southland Conference Women’s Soccer Player of the Week awards, as announced by the conference office on Tuesday.
Goalkeeper of the Week: Sophia Dean – Fr. – Spring, TX (Grand Oaks High School)
Dean played 135 minutes last week, and did not concede a goal in a 2-0 weekend for the Lions. She kept a clean sheet in Friday’s impressive 2-0 win away at Southeastern, before making one save in the first half against Nicholls, a game which A&M-Commerce would eventually win 2-1. Dean is yet to concede a goal in conference play across four games, all of which the Lions have won. This is Dean’s second Goalkeeper of the Week award this season.
Honorable Mention: Jackie Kelly, McNeese
Defensive Player of the Week: Nya Mitchell – So. – Dallas, TX (Mesquite Horn High School)
Mitchell was a central cog in the aforementioned defensive effort from the Lions this week. Anchoring the backline, Mitchell played the full 90 minutes in both games of the 2-0 week for the Lions, conceding just one goal and limiting their opposition to 13 shots at goal over the weekend, 12 less than the Lions managed. Their 4-0 record in SLC competition sees them share the top spot in the current table with Lamar, and are riding a five game win streak overall. The Lions are third in the SLC in goals allowed.
Honorable Mention: Martine Ellefsen, McNeese
Offensive Player of the Week: Hollie Massey, Lamar – Gr. – Cheshire, England (Congleton High School)
Massey was heavily involved in leading Lamar to another 2-0 weekend, taking their SLC record to a perfect 4-0. Massey scored twice, and assisted twice in the Cardinals’ two victories this weekend. In Friday’s 5-1 win against Nicholls, Massey scored two goals within a five minute span, before adding an assist just 17 seconds after the restart. On Sunday, Massey assisted Isela Ramirez for the game-winning goal in the 1-0 triumph at Southeastern. She leads the SLC with 16 points - five goals, six assists - and this is Massey’s second Offensive Player of the Week award this season.
Honorable Mention: Kaydence Ramirez, Texas A&M-Commerce
2023 Southland Women’s Soccer Players of the Week
| Date |
Goalkeeper |
Defensive |
Offensive |
| Aug. 22 |
Makenzie Hall, UIW |
Eve Clarkson, UIW |
Kelsey Fuller, Southeastern |
| Aug. 29 |
Sophia Dean, Texas A&M-Commerce |
Ellie Mai Sanford, UIW |
Kaydence Ramirez, Texas A&M-Commerce |
| Sept. 5 |
Kennedy Stelling, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
Lauren Andre, Nicholls |
Maggie Murray, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
| Sept. 12 |
Libe Banuelos, Northwestern State |
Rachel Loetzer, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
Hollie Massey, Lamar |
| Sept. 19 |
Nicole Panis, Lamar |
Arely Alaniz, Lamar |
Cariel Ellis, Lamar |
| Sept. 26 |
Jackie Kelly, McNeese |
Martine Ellefsen, McNeese |
Taylor Spitzer, Northwestern State |
| Oct. 3 |
Sophia Dean, Texas A&M-Commerce (2) |
Nya Mitchell, Texas A&M-Commerce |
Hollie Massey, Lamar (2) |
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.
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