Big South Announces Women's Soccer Players of the Week - Oct. 23
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) – USC Upstate forward Dara Russo (Miamisburg, Ohio) has been named the Big South Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week, while Radford defender Helena Willson (Leesburg, Va.) is the Defensive Player of the Week for matches played Oct. 16-22, it was announced today. In addition, Highlander midfielder Caitlyn Nottingham (Moseley, Va.) has been selected as the Freshman of the Week.
Russo combined for nine points on four goals and one assist in two commanding wins for the Spartans. She opened the week with three goals on six shots in just 39 minutes against South Carolina State, her second hat trick of the season. Russo then helped open the scoring on Saturday with an assist to Ashley Finn in the eighth minute prior to netting a goal of her own in the 20th as Upstate returned to conference play with a commanding 4-0 home win over Presbyterian.
Willson picked up her third goal of the season last Wednesday night, a penalty kick game-winner at the 36:40 mark to earn a road win over Longwood. In their regular-season finale on Saturday, she played a critical role in leading the Highlanders to their seventh shutout of the year in a 1-0 victory against Gardner-Webb, a win that boosted Radford into first place in the conference standings.
Nottingham assisted on Radford’s game-winning goal on Saturday night in a win over the Runnin’ Bulldogs. All even at 0-0, the freshman found teammate Amy Swain in the 63rd minute for the lone score of the match, as the Highlanders picked up another three points in the league standings to move into first place.
Also nominated for Offensive Player of the Week: Julia Gill (Longwood).
Also nominated for Defensive Player of the Week: Jenna Moran (Charleston Southern), Alayna Palamar (Longwood) and Cora Brendle (USC Upstate).