SoCon women’s soccer players of the week announced

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Mercer forward Morganne Eikelbarner and Samford goalkeeper Peyton Hull have been named the Southern Conference women’s soccer offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively, for all competition from Sept. 2-8.

Eikelbarner started in both matches for Mercer last week as the Bears were victorious in each contest. The native of Plano, Texas, logged the first goal of the match in the Bears’ 3-2 triumph over Sept. 4. Three days later, the senior, who spent the previous three seasons at Oklahoma, recorded her first career hat trick as Mercer defeated Gardner-Webb, 5-0, on Senior Day.

Hull posted a pair of shutouts while playing all 180 minutes inside the net for Samford last week. On Sept. 4, the redshirt sophomore saved seven shots during a 3-0 win at Georgia State. In the team’s 2-0 win over Western Kentucky on Sept. 7, the product of South Bend, Indiana, had one save. Hull now has four shutouts this season, which is tied for the SoCon lead in the category.

Mercer (4-2) hosts Winthrop on Thursday and Jacksonville State on Sunday. Samford (3-2-1) plays at Belmont on Thursday and at UAB on Sunday.

Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Alice Williamson (The Citadel), Reagan Fitzgerald (ETSU), Bri Pinasco (Furman), Sam De Luca (Samford), Caroline Richvalsky (Chattanooga), Ava Robitaille (Western Carolina), and Julia Grier (Wofford)

Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Ella Parker (ETSU), Abbey Marak (Chattanooga), and Mary Mueth (Western Carolina)

2025 SoCon Women’s Soccer Offensive Players of the Week 

Aug. 19             Reagan Fitzgerald, Jr., F, ETSU 

Aug. 26             Paige Thomas, So., F, Chattanooga 

Sept. 2             Gabriela Vatrano, So., MF, Western Carolina 

Sept. 9             Morganne Eikelbarner, Sr., F, Mercer 

2025 SoCon Women’s Soccer Defensive Players of the Week 

Aug. 19             Caroline Ekern, Sr., GK, Chattanooga 

Aug. 26             Reese DeJong, So., GK, Furman 

Sept. 2             Caroline Ekern, Sr., GK, Chattanooga 

Sept. 9             Peyton Hull, R-So., GK, Samford