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
Mackenzie Duff - Clemson
ECNL Club - SLSG
Duff anchored a Clemson backline that posted a pair of clean sheets and allowed just five shots over two matches for the week. In the team's first shutout on Thursday, Duff and the Tiger defense did not allow a shot on goal until the 67th minute, as they blanked Miami, 5-0. On Sunday, the St. Louis, Missouri, native led a backline that held Boston College without a shot on goal for the match and recorded a brace off corner kicks in Clemson's 2-0 road victory.
Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week
Ashleigh Williams - Texas Tech
ECNL Club - Sting Dallas Black
Williams earned her second weekly award this season after tallying three goals last week to help TTU remain undefeated with a 9-0-2 record. On the road at then-No. 14 Texas, she scored the first goal in the 2-1 win before posting her fourth brace of the season in the 2-0 win at Baylor. Williams' 12 goals scored this season is ranked fourth in the nation.
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week
Hannah Anderson - Texas Tech
ECNL Club - Dallas Texans
Anderson headed in the game-winning goal that lifted the Red Raiders over the Longhorns with one second left on the clock. Defending against the nation's top-scoring offense, the Red Raider back line held Texas to a season-low four shots on goal. Texas Tech also held Baylor to two shots on goal after nine shot attempts on Sunday. This is the second career defensive weekly award for the 2022 Big 12 Soccer Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Big 12 Freshman of the Week
Jessica McCullen - UCF
ECNL Club - Orlando City
McCullen logged 136 minutes last week and helped UCF keep Houston and Kansas scoreless. The Knights registered two 1-0 wins to extend their winning streak to five contests. The Orlando City alum has helped the UCF defense hold opponents to seven total goals scored, which is the third-lowest allowed from Big 12 teams this season.
Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week
Hope Paredes - Indiana
ECNL Club - San Diego Surf
Paredes scored the game winning goal in the second minute of 1-0 win over No. 18 Northwestern. Indiana held the Wildcats to just six shots in the game.
Big Ten Freshman of the Week
Bella Najera - Michigan State
ECNL Club - Eclipse Select SC
Najera scored the lone goal in Michigan State's 1-0 win over Wisconsin. The award is her second consecutive Freshman of the Week honor.
Pac 12 Offensive Player of the Week
Ally Cook - UCLA
ECNL Club - West Coast FC
Cook scored the first two goals in UCLA's 3-1 win over No. 20 Colorado. The West Coast FC alum leads UCLA in scoring with five goals and 11 points on the season. The award is her second Pac 12 Offensive Player of the Week award this season.
Pac 12 Defensive Player of the Week
Quincy McMahon - UCLA
ECNL Club - Indiana Fire
McMahon provided the assist on Ally Cook's game winning goal in the Bruins 3-1 win over Colorado. The Indiana Fire alum led a defense that held Colorado to just five total shots. McMahon ranks fifth on the Bruins in points with four on the year and third in assists with two. The award is her second Pac 12 Defensive Player of the Week award this season.
Pac 12 Goalkeeper of the Week
Ryan Campbell - Stanford
ECNL Club - SoCal Blues
Campbell led Stanford to a 1-0 victory at No. 24 Washington State. The SoCal Blues alum made two key saves to keep the Cougars scoreless and picked up her 12th career shutout. Campbell is unbeaten on the season with a 6-0-1 record and has four shutouts on the year. The award is her third Pac 12 Goalkeeper of the Week award this season.
SEC Defensive Player of the Week
Bea Franklin - Arkansas
ECNL Club - Crossfire Premier
Franklin was a major contributor in both of Arkansas' wins this week. On Thursday against No. 9 Alabama, Franklin netted the first goal of the match, the game-winner, and assisted on the third goal of the match to help give Arkansas its largest win over a ranked opponent in program history. On Sunday at Texas A&M, Franklin assisted on the Hogs' lone goal to take down the Aggies for Arkansas' sixth straight victory over A&M.
American Athletic Conference Goalkeeper of the Week
Emma Wakeman - Charlotte
ECNL Club - Charlotte Independence Soccer Club
Wakeman recorded six saves en route to a clean sheet in Charlotte's 0-0 draw with South Florida on Thursday.
American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week
Alexis Miller - North Texas
ECNL Club - DKSC
Miller tallied a goal in North Texas' 6-0 victory over Rice on Thursday night.
Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Week
Olivia Bohl - Northern Iowa
ECNL Club - Minnesota Thunder Academy
Bohl helped lead consecutive stifling defensive performances for UNI last week, as the Panthers posted shutouts against UIC and Southern Illinois. The Minnesota Thunder Academy alum played the full 90 minutes in both games as the Panthers recorded their fifth and sixth shutouts on the season. Bohl also recorded her second assist of the season in the victory over Southern Illinois.
Mountain West Freshman of the Week
Cassie Villanueva - UNLV
ECNL Club - Slammers FC
Villanueva scored the game winning goal in the 81st minute against Wyoming and totaled six shots and three shots on goal during the two matches last week.
