Women's Soccer

MAC Announces Week 9 Women's Soccer Weekly Award Winners

Offensive Player of the Week
Callie Cunningham, Western Michigan, Forward
Graduate Student, Connellsville, Pa. (Connellsville)

Callie Cunningham had a career week, helping the Broncos remain undefeated in MAC play and atop the standings. 

Cunningham did all of her damage in a 4-1 win over Bowling Green on Thursday, netting her first career hat trick in the game. She scored all of her goals in the opening 25 minutes of the match, tallying the game winner just four minutes into the match. 

She then put the game out of reach, scoring two goals in two minutes. Her second goal of the game came just over 21 minutes in, while her third goal came about 23 minutes into the match. 

On the week, she led the league in points (6) and goals (3). Her hat trick was just the third in the league this season.

Defensive Player of the Week
Katie Stafford, Akron, Defender
Redshirt Senior, Gahanna, Ohio (Gahanna Lincoln)

Akron redshirt senior Katie Stafford turned in an outstanding week sparking the Zips to a pair of draws, while adding a pair of goals. Stafford headlined Akron's defensive efforts in a 0-0 draw at Miami, a performance that limited the RedHawks to only two shots on goal (11 overall). It was the sixth shutout of the season for the Zips, the most for Akron in a season since posting seven in 2011. It marked the first time since the 2022 campaign Miami had not scored in a home league game. 

Stafford capped her week netting a brace in a 2-2 draw versus Northern Illinois. She opened the scoring in the match with her first goal of the season in the 11th minute before successfully finishing a penalty kick for the equalizing goal in the 89th minute. It marked her second career multi-goal performance.
  
2024 MAC Women's Soccer Players of the Week
Week 1: Taylor Hamlett, Miami (Offensive); Ava Wilberding, Western Michigan (Defensive)
Week 2: Jen Blitchok, Western Michigan (Offensive); Lexie Thompson, Buffalo (Defensive)
Week 3: Scout Murray, Ohio (Offensive); Celeste Sloma, Ohio (Defensive); Dominique Popa, Miami (Defensive)
Week 4: Delaney Caldwell, Ball State (Offensive); Celeste Sloma, Ohio (Defensive); Maya Galko, Buffalo (Defensive)
Week 5: Kelsi McLaughlin, Northern Illinois (Offensive); Penelope Cuirinier, Akron (Defensive)
Week 6: Jen Blitchok, Western Michigan (Offensive); Frederique St.-Jean, Buffalo (Defensive)
Week 7: Arianna Zumpano, Buffalo (Offensive); Agnes Stenlund, Toledo (Defensive)
Week 8: Lexi Czerwien, Bowling Green (Offensive); Sammi Glover, Western Michigan (Defensive); Lexie Thompson, Buffalo (Defensive) 
Week 9: Callie Cunningham, Western Michigan (Offensive); Katie Stafford, Akron (Defensive)