Illinois, Iowa, Northwestern and Penn State Earn Weekly Women’s Soccer Awards
Fighting Illini’s Jaelyn Cunningham, Hawkeyes’ Morgan Kemerling, Wildcats’ Mackenzie Wood and Nittany Lions’ Marissa Sheva are this week’s honorees
Offensive Player of the Week
Marissa Sheva, Penn State
M – Sr. – Sellersville, Pa. – Pennridge
• Scored the lone goal in Penn State’s 1-0 win over No. 21/22 Rutgers on Sunday, lifting Penn State into sole possession of first place in the Big Ten standings
• Netted her first goal of the season in the 48th minute against the Scarlet Knights
• A two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection (2016-17 and 2017-18), as well as a 2016-17 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar
• Earns her second career Offensive Player of the Week honor
• Last Penn State Offensive Player of the Week: Megan Schafer (Oct. 10, 2017)
Defensive Player of the Week
Morgan Kemerling, Iowa
D – Sr. – Aurora, Ill. – Waubonsie Valley
• Anchored the Iowa backline in a pair of Big Ten shutout victories over Michigan State and Michigan last week
• Led a Hawkeye defense that did not allow Michigan to record a shot on goal in Sunday’s win over the Wolverines
• Helped hold MSU to three shots on goal in a midweek win over the Spartans
• A two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten honoree, earning both honors in 2016-17 and 2017-18
• Garners her first career Defensive Player of the Week honor
• Last Iowa Defensive Player of the Week: Claire Graves (Oct. 10, 2017)
Goalkeeper of the Week
Jaelyn Cunningham, Illinois
GK – Jr. – Reynoldsburg, Ohio – Pickerington Central
• Played every minute in goal for Illinois last week, making a combined 14 saves in victories over Purdue and Indiana
• Registered a season-high eight saves in a double-overtime win over Indiana on Sunday, recording her sixth shutout of the season
• Added six saves in a midweek victory over Purdue
• Receives her first career Goalkeeper of the Week accolade
• Last Illinois Goalkeeper of the Week: N/A (new award in 2018)
Freshman of the Week
Mackenzie Wood, Northwestern
GK – Granger, Ind. – Penn
• Earned a win and a tie in the NU goal last weekend, combining for 12 saves against Indiana and Purdue
• Made eight saves, her second-highest total of the season, in Sunday’s scoreless draw against Purdue to earn her conference-leading eighth shutout of the season
• Recorded four saves in the midweek matchup with Indiana, including a stop on a penalty kick in the second half with the score tied 1-1
• Collects her third career Freshman of the Week award
• Last Northwestern Freshman of the Week: Mackenzie Wood (Sept. 25, 2018)
2018 Big Ten Players of the Week
Aug. 21
O: Sadie Misiewicz, Jr., MSU
D: Kayla Sharples, Sr., NU
GK: Claire Graves, Jr., IOWA
F: Makena Silber, ILL
Aug. 28
O: Kayla Fischer, Fr., OSU
D: Sinclaire Miramontez, Jr., NEB
GK: Mackenzie Wood, Fr., NU
F: Mackenzie Wood, NU
F: Kayla Fischer, OSU
Sept. 4
O: Annelie Leitner, Sr., IND
D: Michaela Kovacs, Jr., MSU
GK: Reilley Ott, Jr., MSU
F: Emaly Vatne, OSU
Sept. 11
O: Brenna Lovera, Sr., NU
D: Julietta Thron, Fr., NU
GK: Rachel Egyed, Sr., MD
F: Marisa Bova, PUR
Sept. 18
O: Dani Rhodes, Jr., WIS
D: Claudia Day, Gr., IND
GK: Aubrei Corder, Jr., NEB
F: Kim Dubs, PSU
Sept. 25
O: Faith Carter, Sr., NEB
D: Izzy Rodriguez, So., OSU
GK: Devon Kerr, Sr., OSU
F: Mackenzie Wood, NU
Oct. 2
O: Izzy Rodriguez, So., OSU
D: Hannah Mussallem, Sr., PUR
GK: Aubrei Corder, Jr., NEB
F: Meagan McClelland, RU
Oct. 9
O: Amirah Ali, So., RU
D: Madison Pogarch, Sr., RU
GK: Meagan McClelland, Fr., RU
F: Loren Sefcik, MD
Oct. 16
O: Marissa Sheva, Sr., PSU
D: Morgan Kemerling, Sr., IOWA
GK: Jaelyn Cunningham, Jr., ILL
F: Mackenzie Wood, NU
