SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Furman junior midfielder Nieva Gaither and UNCG senior goalkeeper Abby Buchholz have been named the Southern Conference women’s soccer offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively, for all competition from Sept. 20-26.
 
Gaither started for Furman in its two wins last weekend as the Paladins went on the road and grabbed two conference victories. Furman defeated ETSU, 2-1, on Friday, Sept. 23, and had a 2-0 win over Western Carolina on Sunday, Sept. 25. In the contest with ETSU, Gaither had one assist. The assist was on the game-winning goal in the 79th minute when she found Valentina Mosquera after spinning away from two defenders. Gaither finished with one goal and one assist against Western Carolina. The native of Lilburn, Georgia, got her assist in the 31st minute of the match as teammate Hannah Farr scored to put the Paladins ahead 1-0. Gaither’s goal came off a penalty kick in the 46th minute to add an insurance score for Furman. Gaither, the reigning SoCon player of the year, currently leads the conference in shots (40), points (17) and assists (7).
 
Buchholz played all 180 minutes inside the net for UNCG as the Spartans went 2-0 over the weekend. UNCG won both games via shutout as it defeated VMI, 3-0, on Friday, Sept. 23, and East Carolina, 2-0, on Sunday, Sept. 25. The native of New Hartford, New York, had one save when the Spartans won their first conference match of the season against VMI. In the contest with East Carolina, Buchholz finished with three saves. Buchholz now has three shutouts this season, which places her third in the league in that category.
 
Furman (7-4-0, 2-0-0 SoCon) plays at Wofford (6-4-1, 1-1-0) on Thursday, Sept. 29. UNCG (5-4-1, 1-0-0) welcomes Samford (4-3-4, 0-1-1) on Friday, Sept. 30, and Chattanooga (4-3-2, 2-0-0) on Sunday, Oct. 2.
 
Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Zoey Conrad (The Citadel), Maddy Gilhool (UNCG), Birna Johannsdottir (Chattanooga), Sedona Dancu (VMI) and Maggie Lloyd (Western Carolina)
 
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Nora Sampson (Furman), Kylie Gazza (Samford), Sylvie Keck (Chattanooga), Abbie Wise (Western Carolina) 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
 
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