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 Offensive Player of the Week
Avery Patterson - North Carolina
ECNL Club - Florida Elite SA
Patterson found the back of the net in both of North Carolina's top-25 matchups last week, as she scored at No. 10 South Carolina on Thursday and later tallied the Tar Heels' only goal against No. 12 Alabama on Sunday. Against the Gamecocks, the Jacksonville, Florida, native gave UNC an early lead in the fifth minute, as the visitors would go on to claim a key 2-1 road victory. She found the opening goal again on Sunday against the Crimson Tide, as her 59th-minute tally increased her goal streak to three straight matches.
ACC Defensive Player of the Week
Halle Mackiewicz - Clemson
ECNL Club - Real Colorado
Mackiewicz totaled six saves last week, as the Tigers blanked nationally-ranked Arkansas on Thursday and drew with Georgia on Sunday. The Real Colorado alum led the Clemson defense with four saves in a 1-0 victory over the Razorbacks, and picked up her nation-leading sixth clean sheet of the season. Despite allowing a goal in a 1-1 draw with Georgia on Sunday, Mackiewicz made a pair of stops to help keep Clemson unbeaten on the season.
Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week
Lexi Missimo - Texas
ECNL Club - Solar SC
For the second week in a row, Missimo was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week. In UT's 7-0 win against Stephen F. Austin, the Solar SC alum recorded a hat trick as well as four assists. She then helped Texas shutout No. 23 Gonzaga in a 0-0 draw. In eight games this season, Missimo has amassed a nation-leading 35 points. Her 35 points also tied UT program history for most points posted in a single season by a junior student-athlete.
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week
Olivia Smith-Griffitts - BYU
ECNL Club - Boise Thorns
Earning its first No. 1 ranking ever in program history last week, Smith-Griffitts helped BYU stay undefeated (7-0) as the Cougars posted a 6-1 victory over rival Utah. The BYU defense held Utah to three shots on goal during the win. After the Utes converted a penalty kick in the first half with BYU up 3-1 at halftime, the junior scored two of the Cougars' second-half goals. The goals marked her first career brace and were her first goals scored this season.
Big 12 Freshman of the Week
Sam Courtwright - Texas Tech
ECNL Club - DKSC
Courtwright saw action on the pitch for 164 minutes during Texas Tech's road games against Arizona and Arizona State. She scored the Red Raiders' lone goal in the 1-1 draw against the Wildcats, which marked her fifth straight game recording at least one point. Taking one shot on goal in the draw against Arizona State, Courtwright helped TTU outshoot the Sun Devils (12-5) to remain undefeated with a 6-0-2 record.
Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week
Samantha Cary - Iowa
ECNL Club - SLSG-MO
Cary earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors for the second consecutive week, following a week in which she helped anchor a defense that earned two clean sheets. Iowa earned a scoreless draw against No. 18 Virginia and Cary also scored a goal in the team's 3-0 win over George Mason.
Big Ten Freshman of the Week
Olivia Bodmer - Rutgers
ECNL Club - PDA
Bodmer recorded eight saves on the week, leading the Scarlet Knights to a 2-1 record, including three saves in a win over then undefeated Providence.
SEC Offensive Player of the Week
Gianna Paul - Alabama
ECNL Club - SUSA FC
Paul helped the Tide remain undefeated on the season with a 2-0 win over Southern Miss and a tie against No. 3 North Carolina. Paul scored the second goal in Alabama's win over Southern Miss and recorded the equalizer in the 79th minute against No. 3 North Carolina. Of her five shots this week, three were on target and two were goals.
