SoCon women’s soccer players of the week announced

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Samford forward Whitaker Buchanan and Western Carolina goalkeeper Leanne Trudel have been named the Southern Conference women’s soccer offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively, for all competition from Oct. 15-21.

Buchanan had five points for Samford last week as the Bulldogs went 1-0-1. In a 4-2 win over Mercer on Oct. 17, the native of Bowling Green, Kentucky, had a goal and an assist. Buchanan assisted the first goal of the game when she found teammate Fleming Dean in the 12th minute of the contest and her goal came in the 21st minute, making the score 2-1 in favor of Samford. During a 2-2 draw at ETSU on Oct. 20, the senior scored a penalty kick goal in the 70th minute, tying the score 1-1. Buchanan is currently tied for the lead in the SoCon in total assists (7).

Trudel, who also won the honor on Sept. 24, played all 180 minutes inside the net for Western Carolina last week, posting a pair of shutouts. The Longueuil, Quebec, native had one save in the team’s 0-0 draw against ETSU on Oct. 17. Three days later, the junior recorded three saves, with one coming in the 80th minute off a free kick, in 2-0 victory at UNCG. Trudel currently leads the conference in four categories, including shutouts (9) and goals against average (.515).

Samford (8-6-3, 5-1-2 SoCon) plays its season finale against UNCG (4-7-5, 3-2-3) on Oct. 27. Western Carolina (11-2-3, 6-0-1) travels to Furman (8-5-3, 4-1-2) on Oct. 24, before heading to Chattanooga (6-7-3, 5-3-0) for the final game of the regular season on Oct. 27.

Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Grace Eatz (ETSU), Sara Engels (Mercer) and Zoey Mize (Chattanooga)

Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Ashton Blair (ETSU), Anna Bachman (Mercer), Peyton Hull (Samford) and Caroline Ekern (Chattanooga)

2024 SoCon Women’s Soccer Offensive Players of the Week 

Aug. 20             Kristen Hahn, Sr., F, Western Carolina 

Aug. 27             Larkin Thomason, So., F, Mercer 

Sept. 3             Milla Syska, Jr., F, Western Carolina 

Sept. 10            Ines Obradovac, Jr., F, Wofford

Sept. 17            Milla Syska, Jr., F, Western Carolina 

Sept. 24            Megan Childress, Sr., F, Wofford

Oct. 1               Larkin Thomason, So., F, Mercer 

Oct. 8               Naya Marcil, Sr., MF, Western Carolina 

Oct. 15             Isabella DeMarco, Jr., F, Western Carolina 

Oct. 22             Whitaker Buchanan, Sr., F/MF, Samford 

2024 SoCon Women’s Soccer Defensive Players of the Week 

Aug. 20             Whitney Tracy, Sr., GK, VMI

Aug. 27             Lindsay Bell, R-Jr., GK, Mercer

Sept. 3             Emma Malone, Jr., GK, UNCG

Sept. 10            Becca Campbell, Gr., D, Western Carolina

Sept. 17            Elizabeth Navola, Fr., GK, Wofford

Sept. 24            Leanne Trudel, Jr., GK, Western Carolina

Oct. 1               Emma Malone, Jr., GK, UNCG

Oct. 8               Lindsay Bell, R-Jr., GK, Mercer

Oct. 15             Reese DeJong, Fr., GK, Furman

Oct. 22             Leanne Trudel, Jr., GK, Western Carolina