This season the ECNL will feature the college corner, a section highlighting standout ECNL alums who were named Players of the Week from their respective NCAA Division 1 conferences around the country. This week features a number of players who were outstanding on the field for their college teams.
ACC Defensive Player of the Week
Makenna Morris - Clemson
ECNL Club - McLean ECNL
Morris led the Clemson backline to its 10th shutout this season and scored the match's only goal in the Tigers' 1-0 win at No. 23 Duke on Friday. On the offensive end, the Germantown, Maryland, native converted from the penalty spot in the 29th minute for her seventh goal of the season. On the defensive side, Morris and the Clemson defense held the Blue Devils to just two shots on goal and without a corner kick for the contest.
Big 12 Co-Offensive Player of the Week
Lexi Missimo - Texas
ECNL Club - Solar SC
Missimo tallied two goals and two assists in the Longhorns' 6-1 win over Houston on Sunday after facing a shutout 2-0 loss at Oklahoma earlier in the week. During the win, she set the program's single-season goals record with her 19th goal of the year. Missimo also converted her sixth penalty kick of the season, which leads the nation. Currently owning 49 assists, the two-time Academic All-Big 12 selection is one assist away from tying for second all-time for career assists in the Big 12.
Big 12 Co-Offensive Player of the Week
Ashleigh Williams - Texas Tech
ECNL Club - Sting Dallas Black
Williams helped the Red Raiders remain undefeated in a quest for their first Big 12 regular season title by having a role in each of the two goals posted by Texas Tech last week. She picked up an assist in the 1-1 draw with UCF before scoring the lone goal in the 1-0 win over Oklahoma State. Williams has scored a career-high 13 goals this season and has netted 30 in three seasons, which marks her as the fourth player in program history to record 30 goals. This is the third weekly award for the two-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree this year.
Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week
Lynette Hernaez - BYU
ECNL Club - SoCal Blues
Hernaez collected 13 saves during the week as BYU garnered wins over Oklahoma State (3-0) and Oklahoma (2-0). She captured a career-high six saves against the Cowgirls before she grabbed her season-best seven saves against the Sooners. The freshman's two shutouts were her second and third of the season, in nine appearances in goal for the Cougars.
Big 12 Freshman of the Week
Avery Gillahan - Iowa State
ECNL Club - Internationals SC
Gillahan had a .930 save percentage in games against Kansas and K-State. Earning her second Freshman of the Week honor this season, she grabbed a Conference-high 14 saves last week. The Internationals SC alum registered a career-high eight saves against Kansas in the Cyclones' 1-0 win. She then made six saves in ISU's 2-1 win over K-State. She has recorded three shutouts this season.
Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week
Ella Hase - Northwestern
ECNL Club - Chicago Inter
Hase scored three goals last week as Northwestern went 1-0-1. The Chicago Inter alum netted a goal in Northwestern's 2-1 win over Iowa, then added a brace in a 2-2 draw against No. 4 Penn State.
Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week
Piper Coffield - Indiana
ECNL Club - Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Coffield was part of a defensive effort that conceded one goal and earned a scoreless draw in two matches last week. The Pittsburgh Riverhounds alum also scored the game winning goal in a 2-1 win over Michigan.
Big Ten Freshman of the Week
Bella Najera - Michigan State
ECNL Club - Eclipse Select SC
Najera totaled three points as the Spartans went 1-0-1 on the week. The Eclipse Select SC alum recorded an assist in a 1-1 draw at Indiana and scored a goal in a 2-0 win over Rutgers.
Pac 12 Offensive Player of the Week
Kelsey Branson - Washington
ECNL Club - San Diego Surf
Branson scored the lone goal against Stanford to help the Huskies earn their first point against Stanford since 2004. The award is the second Pac 12 Offensive Player of the Week award of her career.
Pac 12 Defensive Player of the Week
Quincy McMahon - UCLA
ECNL Club - Indiana Fire
McMahon recorded a pair of assists and helped the Bruins record their fourth consecutive shutout and ninth overall shutout of the season. UCLA held Utah to just three shots in the 4-0 victory. The Indiana Fire alum now leads the Pac 12 in assists with seven on the season. McMahon now holds the league record with five overall Defensive Player of the Week honors, with four coming this season.
Pac 12 Goalkeeper of the Week
Olivia Juarez - Washington
ECNL Club - Crossfire United
Juarez made a career-high 12 saves in the Huskies 1-1 draw with Stanford. The award is her first career Pac 12 Goalkeeper of the Week award.
SEC Offensive Player of the Week
Summer Denigan - Georgia
ECNL Club - Kings Hammer FC
Denigan continued a strong debut season in Athens with her match-winning goal at Tennessee Friday evening. In the 74th minute, Denigan beat her defender to a terrific pass from teammate Mallie McKenzie, scoring from 15 yards out to give Georgia the lead and eventual victory. With the score, Denigan moved into a tie for the team high in goals with four, while currently ranking second in shots and third in shots on goal.
SEC Defensive Player of the Week
Ellie Podojil - Arkansas
ECNL Club - Ohio Elite SA
Podojil played every second of Arkansas' 3-0 shutout win against Florida. The linchpin on the Hogs' backline, Podojil blew up several Florida attacks and held the Gators to just six shots on the night, the lowest shot total the Razorbacks have allowed in SEC play this season. The shutout victory gave Arkansas its SEC-leading 10th win of the season and sixth win in conference play. Podojil and the Arkansas defense have given up the fewest goals (4) in SEC play and lead the conference with four shutouts in league play.
SEC Freshman of the Week
Ella Eggleston - Vanderbilt
ECNL Club - Solar SC
Eggleston registered the game-winning goal in the 88th minute of a 1-0 win against Missouri. It was her second game-winner of the season (both in conference play). She currently has the second-most goals on the team, second-most points on the team and leads the team in shots taken and shooting percentage.
