FRISCO, Texas — Northwestern State's Paige Baumgartner recorded her second straight weekly award, while Stephen F. Austin’s Sydney Williams and the University of the Incarnate Word’s Hannah Alexander have garnered this week's Southland Women's Soccer Player of the Week awards, the conference office announced Tuesday.
Offensive Player of the Week: Paige Baumgartner, Northwestern State – Gr. – F – Rowlett, Texas (Sachse High School)
Baumgartner had the best scoring day in school history against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, while tallying a pair of school records with five goals and recording 12 points. The Demons set a conference record 24 goals, just one shy of an NCAA record. Her eight goals and 18 points rank first in the Southland Conference, and all eight of her goals have come in the last three contests. She tied the school record with four in the first 15 minutes of the game to put Northwestern State up 6-1.
Defensive Player of the Week: Sydney Williams, Stephen F. Austin – Jr. – D – Allen, Texas (Allen High School)
Williams played 180 minutes and assisted SFA to a 2-0 week. Against Texas Southern, she helped the Ladyjacks secure a 3-0 shutout victory over the Tigers while recording one shot. On Sunday against Jackson State, Williams scored the opening goal for SFA and helped the Ladyjacks hold the Tigers scoreless in the second half, contributing to a 4-2 comeback victory.
Honorable mention: Emma Pethel, Northwestern State
Goalkeeper of the Week: Hannah Alexander, Incarnate Word – GR. – GK – Austin, Texas (Lake Travis)
Alexander tallied a season-best nine saves against crosstown rival UTSA, topping her previous season-high eight against Texas. Seven of her nine saves came in the opening 18 minutes against the Roadrunners on Thursday. Then, three days later, she tallied three saves in a shutout tie against Abilene Christian on Sunday.
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 |