Maryland and Rutgers Earn Weekly Women’s Soccer Awards
Terrapins’ Loren Sefcik and Scarlet Knights’ Amirah Ali, Meagan McClelland and Madison Pogarch are this week’s honorees
Offensive Player of the Week
Amirah Ali, Rutgers
F – So. – Voorhees, N.J. – Eastern Regional
• Scored the golden goal in both of Rutgers’ Big Ten wins last week as the Scarlet Knights moved atop the conference standings with victories over No. 14 Northwestern and Illinois
• Connected in the 97th minute of the Oct. 4 win over NU, and scored in the 98th minute of Sunday’s win over the Fighting Illini
• Has had a hand in all five of Rutgers’ golden goals this season, scoring four times and assisting on the fifth
• Earns her first career Offensive Player of the Week honor
• Last Rutgers Offensive Player of the Week: Brittany LaPlant (Oct. 17, 2017)
Defensive Player of the Week
Madison Pogarch, Rutgers
D – Sr. – Hartland, Mich. – Hartland
• Played every minute for a Scarlet Knights’ backline that posted overtime shutouts against Big Ten opponents Northwestern and Illinois last week
• Helped Rutgers remain unbeaten in nine overtime games this season (5-0-4 record), including its last eight outings (5-0-3)
• Has been named a candidate for the 2018 Senior CLASS Award
• Garners her first career Defensive Player of the Week honor
• Last Rutgers Defensive Player of the Week: Casey Murphy (Oct. 24, 2017)
Goalkeeper of the Week
Meagan McClelland, Rutgers
GK – Fr. – Kearny, N.J. – Kearny
• Made a combined seven saves last week to earn a pair of shutouts as Rutgers prevailed in overtime against Big Ten foes Northwestern and Illinois
• Tied her career high with five saves in the Oct. 4 win over No. 14 Northwestern
• Added two stops, including a critical save in overtime, to secure Sunday’s victory over Illinois
• Receives her first career Goalkeeper of the Week accolade
• Last Rutgers Goalkeeper of the Week: N/A (new award in 2018)
Freshman of the Week
Loren Sefcik, Maryland
M/F – Medina, Ohio – Medina
• Scored the game-winning goal in Maryland’s 2-1 victory over Big Ten foe (and 14th-ranked) Northwestern on Sunday
• Connected in the 34th minute to record her first career goal
• Fueled the Terrapins’ first win over a top-15 opponent since Sept. 22, 2013 (1-0 vs. No. 6/3 Wake Forest)
• Collects her first career Freshman of the Week award
• Last Maryland Freshman of the Week: Mikayla Dayes (Aug. 29, 2017)
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
