SoCon women’s soccer players of the week announced

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Mercer midfielder Payton Nutzman 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 Aug. 12-17.

Nutzman led Mercer to a pair of road victories in the Bears’ opening week of the season. In the season opener versus Jackson State on Aug. 12, the sophomore entered the contest in the 31st minute and immediately made her presence felt, scoring off a penalty kick one minute later for the game’s first score. The native of Greenville, South Carolina, found the back of the net for the second time in the contest in the 42nd minute off a pass from teammate Isabella DeSantis, which proved to be the game-winning score in a 2-1 victory. On Aug. 16, Nutzman logged 55 minutes in a 1-0 win against West Georgia. The first two games of the season marked the first competitive action for Nutzman in 10 months after her freshman campaign ended with an injury in October last season.

Hull played all 180 minutes inside the net for Samford last week. The Bulldogs’ first match of the season ended in a scoreless draw at second-ranked Notre Dame on Aug. 12. The redshirt junior, a native of South Bend, Indiana, had eight saves as she returned to her hometown. Four days later, Hull finished with three saves as Samford defeated Belmont, 2-0, in its home opener.

Mercer travels to Maine on Thursday, before returning home for its home opener versus South Carolina State on Sunday, Samford hosts Georgia State on Thursday, and travels to South Alabama on Sunday.

Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Laney Smith (UNCG), Martha Bishop (Samford), Quinn Johnson (Chattanooga), Halle Bibee (Tennessee Tech), Gabriela Vatrano (Western Carolina) and Satya Tarafdar (Wofford)

Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Caroline Ekern (Chattanooga), Laila McNamee (Tennessee Tech) and Elizabeth Navola (Wofford)

2026 SoCon Women’s Soccer Offensive Players of the Week 

Aug. 18             Payton Nutzman, So., MF, Mercer 

2026 SoCon Women’s Soccer Defensive Players of the Week 

Aug. 18             Peyton Hull, Jr., GK, Samford