SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Samford sophomore forward Whitaker Buchanan and freshman goalkeeper Emma Donley have been named the Southern Conference women’s soccer offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively, for all competition from Oct. 18-24.
 
Buchanan started in both of Samford’s wins last week as the Bulldogs clinched a share of their ninth straight regular-season title. Samford defeated Furman, 4-0, on Friday, Oct. 21, and the Bulldogs had a 2-1 victory at Wofford on Sunday, Oct. 23. In the game with Furman, Buchanan had one assist in the 17th minute as she found teammate Layton Glisson for a score to make the score 2-0. The native of Bowling Green, Kentucky, had another assist and scored the game-winning goal against Wofford. Buchanan’s assist came in the first minute of the contest when she found Ella Simpson for a score. The goal would come in the 10th minute of the match via a penalty kick.
 
Donley played all 180 minutes inside the net for Samford last week. Donley had one save and recorded her third shutout of the season in the game at Furman. The native of Gallatin, Tennessee, would get four saves in the game with Wofford to help the team secure a share of regular-season title with Chattanooga. Donley is the third Samford player to be named defensive player of the week this season. Kylie Gazza received the honor on Aug. 23, while Morgan McAslan won the award twice, coming on Aug. 30 and Sept. 13.
 
Samford (9-3-6, 5-1-3 SoCon) is the No. 2 seed for the conference tournament and will host the winner of No. 7 The Citadel (9-8-0, 4-5-0) and No. 10 VMI (1-16-2, 0-9-0) on Friday, Oct. 28. The winner of that game will face the winner of No. 3 Mercer (9-3-6, 4-1-4) and No. 6 ETSU (5-6-5, 3-3-3) on Sunday, Oct. 30.
 
Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Caroline Woods (UNCG), Mackenzie Smith (Chattanooga), Abbie Lainhart (Western Carolina) and Ansley Elizalde (Wofford)
 
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Shu Ohba (ETSU), Ally Hackett (UNCG), Caroline Ekern (Chattanooga) and Caroline Doss (Wofford)
 
2022 SoCon Women’s Soccer Offensive Players of the Week 
Aug. 23             Kendall Cook, Jr., MF, Mercer 
Aug. 30             Jada Moorman, Fr., F, Mercer
Sept. 6             Naya Marcil, So., F, Western Carolina
Sept.13             Kendall Cook, Jr., MF, Mercer 
Sept. 20            Suzuka Yosue, Sr., F, The Citadel
Sept. 27            Nieva Gaither, Jr., MF, Furman
Oct. 4               Jada Moorman, Fr., F, Mercer
Oct. 11             Suzuka Yosue, Sr., F, The Citadel
Oct. 18             Nadia Wilson, So., F, UNCG
Oct. 25             Whitaker Buchanan, So., F, Samford
 
 
2022 SoCon Women’s Soccer Defensive Players of the Week 
Aug. 23             Kylie Gazza, Sr., D, Samford
Aug. 30             Morgan McAslan, Sr., GK, Samford
Sept. 6             Grace Laws, Fr., GK, The Citadel 
Sept. 13            Morgan McAslan, Sr., GK, Samford
Sept. 20            Nora Sampson, Sr., GK, Furman
Sept. 27            Abby Buchholz, Sr., GK, UNCG
Oct. 4               Caroline Doss, Jr., GK, Wofford
Oct. 11             Lindsay Bell, So., GK, Mercer
Oct. 18             Caroline Ekern, Fr., GK, Chattanooga
Oct. 25             Emma Donley, Fr., GK, Samford