SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Mercer forward Nicole Icen and ETSU goalkeeper Tess Mrozek have been named the Southern Conference women’s soccer offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively, for all competition Aug. 27 – Sept. 2.

Mercer won two contests on the week, downing Austin Peay 1-0 on the road Friday and rolling past Davidson 6-1 on Sunday. Icen played 39 minutes in the win over the Governors before earning her first career start against Davidson. The freshman from Marietta, Georgia, erupted for a hat trick against the Wildcats. After an early Davidson goal, Icen scored the first Mercer goal of the contest in the 20^th minute of play before goals by Megan Delmonico and Logan Culver gave Mercer the 3-1 lead at the half. Out of the half, Amaya Evans scored to extend the Bears’ lead before Icen scored two goals in a three-minute span to cap off the hat trick.

Mrozek, a sophomore, played all 220 minutes on the week in double overtime draws against USC Upstate and at Gardner-Webb. She faced nine shots and didn’t allow a goal in 110 minutes against the Spartans on Wednesday, tallying two saves in the tie. On Sunday night, the native of Johnson City, Tennessee, faced 24 shots and totaled 12 saves, allowing just one goal in the draw. She finished the week with 0.41 goals against average and a .933 save percentage.

Mercer hosts Gardner Webb on Friday, Sept. 6, and Charleston Southern on Sunday, Sept. 8, while ETSU plays at Navy on Friday and at Delaware State on Sunday.

Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Logan Dix (The Citadel), Erin Houlihan (Furman), Nicole Souply (UNCG), Grace Sommi (Samford), Samantha Shaw (Chattanooga), Regan Ward (Western Carolina) and Katie Gilligan (Wofford).

Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Kellsey Weaver (Furman), Megan Delmonico (Mercer), Morgan McAslan (Samford), Ashton Shields (Chattanooga) Summit Dann (Western Carolina) and Maria Mon (Wofford).

2019 SoCon Women’s Soccer Offensive Players of the Week

Aug. 27       Caitlyn Reilly, Sr., MF, Furman
Sept. 3         Nicole Icen, Fr., F, Mercer

2019 SoCon Women’s Soccer Defensive Players of the Week

Aug. 27       Abbey Saddler, So., GK, Chattanooga
Sept. 3         Tess Mrozek, So., GK, ETSU

-www.SoConSports.com-