The college corner highlights 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
Karlie Lema - California
ECNL Club - MVLA
Lema had a hand in six of Cal's seven goals last week, as she finished with five goals and an assist in the Golden Bears' two non-conference wins over Nevada and San Diego. The Morgan Hill, California, native opened the week with her first collegiate hat trick, knocking in three goals in Cal's 4-1 victory over Nevada on Thursday. The striker continued her scoring streak with a pair of goals and an assist in a 3-0 win over San Diego on Sunday. With her five goals last week, Lema now leads the nation with 11 goals and 24 points on the season.
ACC Defensive Player of the Week
Cameron Roller - Duke
ECNL Club - Solar SC
Roller was a key component in Duke's back-to-back shutout victories last week, beginning with the program's first-ever home win over No. 2 North Carolina on Thursday. The Sherman, Texas, native played the full 90 minutes along the backline and provided the assist on the match's only goal. Roller and the Blue Devil defense held the Tar Heels to just six shots for the match. In Sunday's clean sheet against ETSU, Roller and the Duke backline limited the Bucs to just one shot for the match and the defender headed in a corner kick for her second goal of the season. On the season, the Blue Devil backline has allowed just one goal through five matches.
Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week
Ajanae Respass - West Virginia
ECNL Club - Real Colorado
Respass garnered the first weekly nod for the Mountaineers this season after a brace during the 2-0 win over James Madison, achieving the feat in just 49 minutes on the pitch. It was the Oregon transfer's second two-goal performance of her career while it marked her as the second WVU player to register a brace during the 2024 campaign. She rounded out the week playing 67 minutes in the Mountaineers' 1-1 draw with Liberty.
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week
Ellie Geoffroy - Oklahoma State
ECNL Club - Oklahoma Energy FC
Geoffroy helped OSU reach a program-record seven consecutive shutouts with a 0-0 draw with Texas State and a 6-0 victory over ULM. During her 90 minutes against Texas State, the OSU backline held the Bobcats to three shots in the match. She then earned an assist as the Cowgirls prevented the Warhawks from any scoring opportunities on their five shot attempts. The two shutouts during the week left OSU as one of two teams to hold all their opponents scoreless this season. It is the junior's second Big 12 weekly award following her Freshman of the Week selection during the 2022 season.
Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week
Jordan Nytes - Colorado
ECNL Club - Real Colorado
Nytes secured her second Goalkeeper of the Week honor this season after two clean sheets against Denver and Weber State. She tallied five saves against the Pioneers in the Buffaloes' 1-0 win before grabbing four during the 2-0 victory over the Wildcats. The Centennial, Colorado native currently holds a four-game shutout streak and hasn't conceded a goal in 429:52 minutes, dating back to Aug. 18.
Big 10 Defensive Player of the Week
Emma Phillips - Northwestern
ECNL Club - Eclipse Select SC
Phillips anchored Northwestern's back line to consecutive shutouts in wins over Illinois State (4-0) and No. 21 Virginia Tech (1-0). The senior assisted on the game-winning goal over Virginia Tech, while helping limit the Hokies to season lows in shots and shots on goal.
Big 10 Goalkeeper of the Week
Reiley Fitzpatrick - Northwestern
ECNL Club - Loudoun Soccer
Fitzpatrick earned back-to-back clean sheets in wins over Illinois State and No. 21 Virginia Tech. The junior recorded two saves in the win over Illinois State and three in the win over the Hokies. Fitzpatrick has now recorded shutouts in four of the last five matches for the Wildcats.
SEC Offensive Player of the Week
Olivia Woodson - Auburn
ECNL Club - Richmond United
Auburn's Olivia Woodson, a sophomore forward from Richmond, Va., scored three goals this week, including the game-winner over No. 17 Ohio State. Woodson also netted a brace in Auburn's win at Samford, scoring in the 10th and 54th minutes, and followed up with another goal in the 49th minute against Ohio State, securing Auburn's first win over a Big Ten opponent since 2014.
SEC Defensive Player of the Week
Marz Josephson - Kentucky
ECNL Club - NC Courage Academy
Kentucky's Marz Josephson, a graduate goalkeeper from Apex, N.C., recorded two shutouts this week against Murray State and No. 9 UCLA. She made three crucial saves in the upset over UCLA and has allowed only one goal through 576 minutes of play this season.
SEC Freshman of the Week
Sydney Fuller - Texas A&M
ECNL Club - FC Dallas
Texas A&M's Sydney Fuller, a freshman goalkeeper from Keller, Texas, earned her second career shutout with five saves in the Aggies' 2-0 win over rival TCU. Fuller made two crucial stops in 1-v-1 situations and controlled the air on corner kicks.
