SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Samford defender Kylie Gazza and Wofford goalkeeper Maria Mon have been named the Southern Conference women’s soccer offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively, for all games from March 30-April 3. The players of the week are selected by the league office.
 
Gazza scored a goal each in Samford’s 2-0 wins over VMI and UNCG, helping the Bulldogs earn their seventh straight regular-season title. In Thursday’s win at VMI, the sophomore scored in the 64^th minute to add an insurance goal in the win. Gazza netted the first goal of the game, whch would prove to be the game-winner, in the seventh minute in Saturday’s regular-season finale at UNCG.
 
Mon, a junior from Leon, Spain, made a season-high 12 saves in a 1-1 draw against Furman on April 2, moving her into third in program history for career saves. Mon made a save on a penalty kick in double overtime and a second save on a rebound attempt from four yards out, helping the Terriers hold on for the draw against the Paladins, the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Southern Conference Championship. She faced 22 shots and had a 0.82 goals against average, though the Paladins own a 1.62 goals per game mark, and .923 save percentage.
 
Samford (7-1-3, 7-0-2 SoCon), the No. 1 seed, hosts No. 4 Mercer in the Southern Conference Championship semifinals on Friday, April 9, at 2 p.m. CT. Wofford’s season concluded at 3-4-2 as the Terriers played a conference-only schedule.
 
Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Kendall Cook (Mercer) and Emily Szymanski (Chattanooga).

Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Jordyn Ebert (Mercer), Morgan McAslan (Samford) and Abbey Saddler (Chattanooga).

2020-21 SoCon Women’s Soccer Offensive Players of the Week
Feb. 23       Kendall Cook, Fr., F/MF, Mercer
March 2       Chloe Arnold, Sr., F, Chattanooga
March 9       Isabella Gutierrez, Jr., F, Furman
March 16     Kendra Mueller, R-Fr., F, Chattanooga        
March 23     Nieva Gaither, Fr., F, Furman
March 30     Rea Syska, MF, So., Western Carolina
April 6          Kylie Gazza, D, So., Samford
 
2020-21 SoCon Women’s Soccer Defensive Players of the Week
Feb. 23       Melody Mezzina, So., GK, Western Carolina
March 2      Aiyanah Tyler-Cooper, Sr., GK, UNCG
March 9      Ashton Shields, Jr., GK, Chattanooga
March 16    Morgan McAslan, Jr., GK, Samford
March 23    Addison Corn, Fr., GK, Furman
March 30    Maggie Shaw, Jr., D, Chattanooga
April 6        Maria Mon, Jr., GK, Wofford