Women's Soccer

Women’s soccer players of the month announced

Mercer’s Cook and Samford’s Gazza honored for August

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Mercer forward Kendall Cook and Samford defender Kylie Gazza have been named the Southern Conference women’s soccer offensive and defensive players of the month, respectively, for all competition played in August.
 
Cook, a junior, scored two goals and had three assists for the Bears in the month of August. She had an assist in a season-opening tie at Campbell on Aug. 18 and followed that up with a goal and an assist on Aug. 21 in a 3-1 win in the Bears’ home opener against Charleston Southern. The native of Alpharetta, Georgia, was named the SoCon offensive player of the week on Aug. 23 following those two performances. Cook continued her strong play on Aug. 26 versus the College Charleston as she scored another goal in a 4-1 victory for Mercer. In the final match of the month, Cook grabbed another assist versus Stetson on Aug. 28 as the Bears won 4-1.
 
Gazza, a senior, played every minute for Samford in its four games in August. The native of Cumming, Georgia, was a key component of a defense that allowed just one goal during the month. Gazza scored her first goal of the season on Aug. 18 in the squad’s first game of the season at Jacksonville State, where the Bulldogs won 2-0. That performance was the catalyst for Gazza winning SoCon defensive player of the week on Aug. 23. She was also named to the College Soccer News National Team after the first week of play. On Aug. 25 versus Murray State, Gazza scored her second goal of the season in 4-1 victory for Samford in its home opener. The Bulldogs’ lone tie of the month came on Aug. 28 when Samford’s contest with 12th-ranked Ole Miss ended 0-0. Samford was ranked 25th in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll after that game.
 
Mercer (3-1-1) will host two games this week as the Bears welcome South Carolina State on Friday, Sept. 9, and Georgia State on Sunday, Sept. 11. Samford (3-1-2) travels to UAB for a match on Thursday, Sept. 8, and will play at home versus Auburn on Sunday, Sept. 11.
  
Also nominated for offensive player of the month: Nikki Barrio (Samford), Mackenzie Smith (Chattanooga), Naya Marcil (Western Carolina) and Ashley Grant (Wofford)

Also nominated for defensive player of the month: Caroline Ekern (Chattanooga), Melody Mezzina (Western Carolina) and Caroline Doss (Wofford)

2022 SoCon Women’s Soccer Offensive Players of the Month
August  Kendall Cook, Jr., F, Mercer
 
2022 SoCon Women’s Soccer Defensive Players of the Month
August  Kylie Gazza, Sr., D, Samford