Eckart, Carroll, Mercuri Earn Soccer Weekly Awards
Southland Conference
FRISCO, Texas – Lamar’s M.J. Eckart and Central Arkansas’ Stacia Carroll and Lauren Mercuri were named the Southland Conference Soccer Players of the Week, the league announced Tuesday. Southland Players of the Week are presented by
UniversalCoin.com.
Eckart was voted Offensive Player of the Week while Carroll and Mercuri earned defensive and goalkeeper honors, respectively. Following 2-0 weekends for Central Arkansas and Lamar, both teams are currently in a three-way tie at the top of the league standings alongside McNeese with 4-1-0 Southland records.
Lamar (9-3-1, 4-1-0 SLC) next hits the road to face Southeastern Louisiana (3-6-3, 1-2-2 SLC). Central Arkansas (7-6-0, 4-1-0 SLC) begins a three-game homestand with a matchup against Stephen F. Austin (6-6-0, 3-2-0 SLC). Both games are slated for 7 p.m. kickoffs Friday.
Offensive Player of the Week: M.J. Eckart, Lamar – Sr. – Midfielder – Flower Mound, Texas
Eckart played all 180 minutes over the weekend as the Cardinals picked up wins over Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin, running Lamar’s win streak to three games. She had a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win over the Bearkats on Friday. She followed up with two goals, including the game-winner on a penalty kick with less than four minutes remaining as the Cardinals earned their first-ever win over SFA by a score of 3-2 on Sunday. The senior out of Flower Mound, Texas is tied for second in league play with three goals through five games.
Honorable Mention: Autum Schwartz, Central Arkansas; Brittany Caserma, Northwestern State; Hanna Barker, Stephen F. Austin; Chantal Kinsey, Abilene Christian.
Defensive Player of the Week: Stacia Carroll, Central Arkansas – Sr. – Defender – South Jordan, Utah
Carroll marshalled a UCA defense that allowed just one goal in two games as the Bears kept pace in the race for the top conference standings spot. She controlled the center of the field, won balls in the air and funneled the ball to the wings. She played all 185 minutes in road wins against Abilene Christian and UIW. The win against the Cardinals came in the first overtime and sealed a three-way tie for first place in the league standings alongside Lamar and McNeese heading into week eight.
Honorable Mention: Kennedy Rose, Stephen F. Austin; Christina Cutura, Southeastern Louisiana; Siri O’Donnell, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi; Gabi D’Alesandro, McNeese.
Goalkeeper of the Week: Lauren Mercuri, Central Arkansas – Jr. – Goalkeeper – Gig Harbor, Wash.
Mercuri had a big week in goal as UCA went 2-0 to stay in a tie for the Southland Conference lead. She made nine saves as the Bears took down Abilene Christian, 2-1, on Friday, before adding five more (including two in three minutes of overtime) to earn her first individual shutout of the season in a 1-0 win at UIW on Sunday. The junior shot stopper ranks third in the league with a 0.79 goals against average in conference play and second in save percentage (.867).
Honorable Mention: Allyson Smith, Stephen F. Austin; Jordan Wainwright, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi; Michaela Hawthorn, Southeastern Louisiana.
Southland weekly award winners are nominated and voted upon by each school’s sports information director. Voting for one’s own athletes is not permitted. To earn honorable mention, a student-athlete must appear on 25 percent of ballots.