SPARTANBURG, S.C. – ETSU forward Sarah Connolly and Furman goalkeeper Kellsey Weaver have been named the Southern Conference women’s soccer offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively, for all competition Sept. 24-30.
Connolly tallied nine points in two games on the week. In a 2-1 double-overtime loss to Western Carolina on Sept. 27, the senior from Bollygowan, Northern Ireland, netted the lone goal for the Bucs, tying the game at 1. She played 99 minutes of the contest. In a 5-0 win at South Carolina State on Sept. 30, Connolly netted a hat trick and added an assist. Her first goal came less than a minute into the contest as Connolly took the ball away from the Bulldogs’ goalkeeper and scored into an open net. Just three minutes later, she scored her second goal on a pass from teammate Sydney Cavender. Connolly picked up an assist of her own a minute later, setting up Cavender for her first career goal. She completed the hat trick, the second of her career, in the 17th minute. Her sixth goal of the season came off a pass from Cavender and put the Bucs up 4-0.
Weaver played all 110 minutes in a double-overtime tie at Samford. She faced 14 shots and tallied five saves, allowing just one goal in the draw. Two days later, she played over 94 minutes and earned a shutout as the Paladins picked up a 1-0 overtime win at Chattanooga. The senior from Newnan, Georgia, faced 10 shots and recorded four saves.
The recognition is the second of Connolly’s career and the third for Weaver.
ETSU (4-5-2, 0-1-0 SoCon) hosts Samford on Friday, Oct. 4, and Chattanooga on Sunday, Oct. 6, while Furman (6-4-1, 1-0-1 SoCon) hosts UNC Greensboro on Friday and VMI on Sunday in conference action.
Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Suzuka Yosue (The Citadel), Kyndal Anderson (Furman), Nicole Icen (Mercer), Cienna Rideout (UNCG), Hollie Massey (Chattanooga), Kate Swartwout (Western Carolina) and Katie Gilligan (Wofford).
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Elena Pisani (ETSU), Kayla Campbell (UNCG), Morgan McAslan (Samford), Ashton Shields (Chattanooga) and Melody Mezzina (Western Carolina).
2019 SoCon Women’s Soccer Offensive Players of the Week
Aug. 27 Caitlyn Reilly, Sr., MF, Furman
Sept. 3 Nicole Icen, Fr., F, Mercer
Sept. 10 Abigail Zoeller, Jr., F/MF, Mercer
Sept. 17 Taylor Yount, Fr., F, Samford
Sept. 24 Gabi Santora, Fr., F/MF, UNCG
Oct. 1 Sarah Connolly, Jr., F, ETSU
2019 SoCon Women’s Soccer Defensive Players of the Week
Aug. 27 Abbey Saddler, So., GK, Chattanooga
Sept. 3 Tess Mrozek, So., GK, ETSU
Sept. 10 Abbey Sadder, So., GK, Chattanooga
Sept. 17 Melody Mezzina, Fr., GK, Western Carolina
Sept. 24 Morgan McAslan, So., GK, Samford
Oct. 1 Kellsey Weaver, Sr., GK, Furman
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