SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Mercer forward Larkin Thomason and The Citadel defender Grace Duncan have been named the Southern Conference women’s soccer offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively, for all competition from Sept. 12-18.

Thomason played in both games off the bench last week as Mercer went 1-1. She played 50 minutes in the team’s 4-0 shutout at Gardner-Webb on Sept. 14, scoring two goals in the contest. The freshman played 57 minutes against 7th-ranked Alabama on Sept. 17, logging an assist in the team’s 5-1 setback. Thomason scored her first goal against Gardner-Webb in the 35th minute to put the Bears ahead 2-0. In the 81st minute, the Scottsdale, Arizona, native scored her second goal of the game, making the score 4-0. Against Alabama, Thomason assisted on the Bears’ lone goal in the 34th minute, finding teammate Lana Whitfield for a goal, which was just the fifth goal that the Crimson Tide has surrendered this season. Thomason, along with teammate Jada Moorman, share the conference lead in goals with seven.

Duncan played all 90 minutes for The Citadel as the Bulldogs rallied to defeat Charleston Southern, 2-1, on Sept. 13. The graduate student was a part of both goals for the squad after The Citadel surrendered a goal in the 47th minute. Duncan scored her goal to tie the game at 1-1 in the 69th minute off an assist by Ariana Paez. The native of Memphis, Tennessee, then assisted on the game-winning goal, scored by Paez, in the 77th minute to secure the win for the Bulldogs.

Mercer (5-1-4) travels to Chattanooga (6-2) on Thursday, Sept. 21, before hosting UNCG (3-5-1) on Sunday, Sept. 24. The Citadel (3-1-4) travels to UNCG on Thursday, Sept. 21, and welcomes Chattanooga on Sunday, Sept. 24.

Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Ariana Paez (The Citadel), Reagan Fitzgerald (ETSU), Valentina Mosquera (Furman), Isabella Demarco (Western Carolina) and Megan Childress (Wofford)
 
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Ella Parker (ETSU), Miya Poplin (Furman), Emma Malone (UNCG), Leanne Trudel (Western Carolina) and Caroline Doss (Wofford)
 
2023 SoCon Women’s Soccer Offensive Players of the Week 
Aug. 22             Valentina Mosquera, Jr., F, Furman 
Aug. 29             Sinoxolo Cesane, R-Jr., MF, ETSU 
Sept. 5             Caroline Richvalsky, So., F, Chattanooga 
Sept. 12            Jada Moorman, So., F, Mercer 
Sept. 19            Larkin Thomason, Fr., F, Mercer 
 
 
2023 SoCon Women’s Soccer Defensive Players of the Week 
Aug. 22             Leanne Trudel, So., GK, Western Carolina
Aug. 29             Zoe Clevely, Gr., GK, Samford
Sept. 5             Zoe Clevely, Gr., GK, Samford
Sept. 12            Madi Hook, Jr., D, ETSU
Sept. 19            Grace Duncan, Gr., D, The Citadel