SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Western Carolina forward/midfielder Naya Marcil and ETSU goalkeeper Shu Ohba have been named the Southern Conference women’s soccer offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively, for all competition from Sept. 14-20.
 
Marcil, a freshman, netted two of Western Carolina’s three goals in a 3-0 shutout of Ohio on Sept. 19. The native of Saint-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada, came off the bench and opened the scoring in the 60^th minute. Marcil took a pass on the right side from Valentine Pursey and curled the ball into the upper-left side of the goal to break a scoreless tie. Fifteen minutes later, she added an insurance goal. A free kick cross into the box fell at Marcil’s feet, and after jostling for position, she collected the ball and sent a high kick into the back left of the goal.   
 
Ohba, a freshman, played 110 minutes in goal and kept Tennessee Tech off the board as the Bucs and Golden Eagles played to a scoreless draw on Sept. 17. The native of Fujisawa, Japan, posted a career-high nine saves en route to earning her third clean sheet of the season. Ohba was tested early and often, earning one save in the first minute of play and her three other first-half saves all coming in the first 20 minutes. She added two saves in overtime to preserve the draw. The nine saves are the most by an ETSU goalkeeper since Sept. 1, 2019, when Tess Mrozek finished with 12 against Gardner-Webb.
 
Western Carolina (5-3-1) remains at home, opening conference play against Mercer (3-3-1) on Friday, Sept. 24, before hosting The Citadel (6-2) on Sunday, Sept. 26. ETSU (3-1-2) hosts The Citadel on Friday and Mercer on Sunday.
  
Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Ally Fordham (Mercer), Kylie Gazza (Samford) and Savannah Vathy (Wofford).

Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Addison Corn (Furman), Jordyn Ebert (Mercer), Morgan McAslan (Samford), Abbey Saddler (Chattanooga) and Melody Mezzina (Western Carolina).

2021 SoCon Women’s Soccer Offensive Players of the Week
Aug. 24       Hannah Farr, So., MF, Furman
Aug. 31       Riley Flanagan, Fr., F, VMI
Sept. 7        Alyssa Frazier, Sr., MF, Samford
Sept. 14      Kyra Ranvek, So., F, ETSU
Sept. 21      Naya Marcil, Fr., F/MF, Western Carolina
 
2021 SoCon Women’s Soccer Defensive Players of the Week
Aug. 24       Aiyanah Tyler-Cooper, Sr., GK, UNCG
Aug. 31       Sydney Somogyi, Fr., D, ETSU
Sept. 7        Morgan McAslan, Jr., GK, Samford
Sept. 14      Aiyanah Tyler-Cooper, Sr., GK, UNCG
Sept. 21     Shu Ohba, Fr., GK, ETSU