FRISCO, Texas — Nicholls State University’s Alyssa Wheeler, along with Southeastern Louisiana University’s Isabella Walls and Lamar University’s Keely Thomas, garnered this week's Southland Women's Soccer Player of the Week awards, the conference office announced Tuesday.
Offensive Player of the Week: Alyssa Wheeler, Nicholls State University – Sr. – MF – Clovis, Calif. (Clovis North)
Wheeler scored the game-winning goal in the 79th minute in rare fashion, hooking a corner kick past the goalkeeper to secure the Colonels' fifth victory of the season. Her seventh goal is the most by a Colonel in a single season since 2019. She also had an assist on the game's opening goal by Jezlyn Nelson. The senior is one of seven players in the SLC with at least seven goals and is one of six players with at least six assists. She is one of three players who rank within the top seven in both statistics.
Defensive Player of the Week: Isabella Walls, Southeastern Louisiana University– Sr. – D – Geneva, Ill. (Geneva HS)
Walls strengthened Southeastern's defensive back line and helped the green and gold in its 1-0 victory over Stephen F. Austin on the road. As a crucial center back for the Lions, she aided in the team’s second consecutive shutout in conference play and delivered the game-winning assist to her teammate off a perfectly timed free kick in the 17th minute of the match. The captain recorded her third assist of the season, playing all 90 minutes in the match as she leads the team in minutes played (1,336). The senior also stepped up and blocked multiple shots throughout the match, limiting SFA to only three shots on goal in the contest.
Honorable mention: Katya Alexis, Houston Christian
Goalkeeper of the Week: Keely Thomas, Lamar University– Sr. – GK – Richmond, Va. (Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School)
Thomas recorded her third shutout of the season, blanking then conference-leading UIW, 1-0, Thursday evening at home. The senior recorded four saves, including three in the second half, with the last one occurring in the 85th minute. She remains the conference leader in goals-against average (0.51) and second in save percentage (.875).
2026 Southland Women's Soccer Players of the Week
| Date |
Offensive |
Defensive |
Goalkeeper |
| Aug. 18 |
Alexandra Knight, Southeastern |
Alex Arvanitis, McNeese |
Aislinn Wright, Nicholls |
| Aug. 25 |
Isabella Burtini, UTRGV |
Lainey Connell, Southeastern |
Emmy McKeon, HCU |
| Sept. 1 |
Katie Porter, A&M-Corpus Christi |
Sienna Church, UTRGV |
Mariana Amezcua, UTRGV |
| Sept. 8 |
Paige Baumgartner, Northwestern State |
Rebecca Romero, McNeese |
Shannon Dempsey, McNeese |
| Sept. 15 |
Paige Baumgartner, Northwestern State |
Sydney Williams, SFA |
Hannah Alexander, UIW |
| Sept. 22 |
Kamryn Harvey, Lamar |
Riley Wilson, Lamar |
Keely Thomas, Lamar |
| Sept. 26 |
Emily Gundin, Northwestern State |
Bonnie Miller, Northwestern State |
Audrey Marfia, Northwestern State |
| Oct. 6 |
Tyler Coker, UIW |
Mikaela Valentine, HCU |
Hannah Alexander, UIW |
| Oct. 13 |
Angelina Rispone, Nicholls |
Montanna Matthews, UIW |
Audrey Marfia, Northwestern State |
| Oct. 20 |
Alyssa Wheeler, Nicholls |
Isabella Walls, Southeastern |
Keely Thomas, Lamar |