Smith, Erdmann, Dunnigan and Latham Named Soccer Players of the Week
Southland Soccer News and Stats
FRISCO, Texas – Central Arkansas Sophomore forward Ashley Smith, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi junior forward Brooke Erdmann, Stephen F. Austin senior defender Brooke Dunnigan and Northwestern State junior goalkeeper Alex Latham were named the Southland Conference Women’s Soccer Players of the Week presented by UniversalCoin.com, the league announced Tuesday. Smith and Erdmann earned offensive honors while Dunnigan received defensive accolades and Latham was tabbed the top goalkeeper for the week.
Co-Offensive Player of the Week – Ashley Smith, Central Arkansas
Smith was crucial in helping Central Arkansas clinch its first Southland Conference title, scoring a pair of goals and assisting on another as the Bears defeated Southeastern Louisiana and Nicholls. The freshman assisted on Central Arkansas’ first goal on Friday night, feeding a pass to Dayna Mounie, before picking up two goals of her own in UCA’s title-clinching win over Nicholls on Sunday. Her first strike came in the 27th minute, when she collected a pass and hammered it bottom-left for her 9th goal of the season, while her second came in the 66th minute when she finished off a combination off a corner kick from close range. With the brace, Smith is tied for second in the Southland in points, goals, and assists in league play.
Co-Offensive Player of the Week – Brooke Erdmann, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Erdmann vaulted herself to the top of the Islanders scoring chart this season with a trio of goals on the weekend. First, she scored an 88th minute winner against Lamar on Friday, before collecting a brace against McNeese in a 2-2 tie. She put all five of her shots on goal against the Cowgirls and finished the weekend with a .750 shot on goal percentage.
Honorable Mention: Savannah LaRicci, McNeese; Cache’ Haley, Northwestern State.
Defensive Player of the Week – Brooke Dunnigan, Stephen F. Austin
Dunnigan received her first career goal on Sunday afternoon after three years on the SFA backline. She has been a tremendous anchor for the SFA defense, which has won six shutouts this season. Dunnigan’s goal came from a free kick about 30 feet out, where she was able to out jump the defense and head the ball in. On Friday afternoon against Abilene Christian, Dunnigan was able to get a shot in off a corner kick.
Honorable Mention: Kristen Ricks, Central Arkansas; Nikki Schaaf, McNeese.
Goalkeeper of the Week – Alex Latham, Northwestern State
Latham continued her dominance between the posts with two shutouts this past weekend to bring her season total to seven. Against Nicholls, she made five of her eight saves in the overtimes as the Colonels pounded the goal. She made a game-saving grab on a breakaway attempt. She made five saves against Southeastern.
Honorable Mention: Lillie Ehlert, Stephen F. Austin; Annie Bravenec, McNeese; Sydney Newton, Abilene Christian.
Each school’s sports information director nominates and votes for the players of the week, though is not permitted to vote for his or her own player. To receive honorable mention, a student-athlete must receive votes from 25 percent of the Southland sports information directors.