MAC Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Katie Stafford, Akron, D
Freshman, Gahanna, Ohio
Freshman Katie Stafford helped the Zips go 2-0 this week in wins over Cleveland State and Youngstown State. In the game against Cleveland State, Stafford scored her first career goal off of a corner kick and led the Zips to their first win of the season. On Sunday against Youngtown State, Stafford netted two goals to push Akron past Youngstown State, 3-2. Stafford broke open the scoreless contest after she was awarded a penalty kick and scored in the 42nd minute of the game as she rifled her shot into the right corner of the goal. She completed scoring a brace with her second tally at the 50:02 mark, assisted by freshman Sarah Nguyen (Irwin, Pa.)
MAC Women’s Soccer Co-Defensive Players of the Week
Emily Kelly, Buffalo, GK
Senior, Wilson, NY (Wilson)
Senior Emily Kelly turned in a pair of solid performance as she made six saves on eight shots on goal to lead the Bulls to a 2-0 record on the week. She made a pair of saves in a 2-0 win at local rival Canisius on Thursday night and then followed that up with a season-high six saves in a 4-0 win over Duquesne on Sunday afternoon. Kelly and the Bulls have now recorded three straight clean sheets. The Wilson, NY native is 5-1 on the season with 15 saves and a 1.38 goals against average. She is currently fourth in program-history in shutouts (18), third in wins (31), fifth in goals against average (1.16) and 10th in saves (218).
Allison LaPoint, Central Michigan, GK
Sophomore, Royal Oak, Mich. (Shrine Catholic)
Sophomore goalkeeper Allison LaPoint recorded her second and third consecutive shutouts this week, posting clean sheets in a pair of 1-0 road wins over IUPUI and Eastern Illinois. On Thursday against IUPUI, LaPoint stood tall in goal for nearly 104 minutes, making four saves to help CMU claim the win. On Sunday versus Eastern Illinois, LaPoint directed and backstopped a defensive effort that allowed the Panthers just one shot on goal. LaPoint, who has logged every available minute this season, has surrendered just two goals in the past five games, lowering her goals against average to 0.97 and upping her save percentage to .806.
