Offensive Player of the Week
Rachel Wenzel, Akron, Forward
Redshirt Junior, Akron, Ohio (Ellet)
Rachel Wenzel had a standout week for the Zips, scoring in consecutive matches. The senior opened the scoring against Miami with a first-half goal before finding the net again in the 81st minute against Bowling Green on Senior Day to secure a 1-1 draw against the Falcons, who reached the MAC Championship final last season. The result marked just the second Akron win or draw against Bowling Green in the last eight meetings, while Wenzel’s goal was only the second the Zips have scored against the Falcons during that span. Wenzel leads Akron with five goals this season and has scored in each of the Zips’ last three matches, ranking fourth in the MAC in goals.
Defensive Player of the Week
Christie Fransen, Eastern Michigan, Defender
Redshirt Junior, Wooster, Ohio (Wooster)
Eastern Michigan defender Christie Fransen helped the Eagles record a pair of clean sheets last week while contributing a goal and an assist. Eastern shut out Bowling Green, which entered the match 4-1-1, before blanking Central Michigan, which entered averaging 1.50 goals per match. The shutout at Bowling Green marked EMU’s fourth consecutive road clean sheet, the first time in program history the Eagles have held the home team scoreless in four straight road matches. Fransen leads Eastern with three goals this season and scored the game-winning penalty kick in the 68th minute against Central Michigan before assisting on the Eagles’ 80th-minute goal.
Goalkeeper of the Week
Paige Dornheggen, Toledo, Goalkeeper
Junior, Cincinnati, Ohio (Turpin)
Toledo goalkeeper Paige Dornheggen opened MAC play with two clean sheets, leading the Rockets to four points in a 1-0-1 week. She made a career-high eight saves in Toledo’s victory over Kent State, including five in the second half, and made a diving save to her left in the ninth minute to deny a shot headed for the lower corner.
2026 MAC Women's Soccer Players of the Week
Week 1 (August 18): Meaghan Cochrane, Ohio (Offensive); Eva Blatz, Buffalo (Defensive); Lexie Thompson, Buffalo (Goalkeeper)
Week 2 (August 25): Ella Zoerhoof, Toledo (Offensive); Taylor Green, Bowling Green (Defensive); Payton O’Malley, Bowling Green (Goalkeeper)
Week 3 (September 1): Monica Curry, UMass (Offensive); Reese Carpenter, Eastern Michigan (Defensive); Ella Holland, Eastern Michigan (Goalkeeper)
Week 4 (September 8): Monica Curry, UMass (Offensive); Coltie Carson, Miami (Co-Defensive); Emme Butera, Bowling Green (Co-Defensive); Payton O’Malley, Bowling Green (Co-Goalkeeper); Leah Shaffer, Kent State (Co-Goalkeeper)
Week 5 (September 15): Caroline Dickson, UMass (Offensive); Libby Fisher, UMass (Defensinve); Leah Nisenfield, UMass (Goalkeeper)
Week 6 (September 22): Rachel Wenzel, Akron (Offensive); Christie Fransen, Eastern Michigan (Defensive); Paige Dornheggen, Toledo (Goalkeeper)
