Big South Announces Women's Soccer Players of the Week - Aug. 21

Big South Announces Women's Soccer Players of the Week - Aug. 21

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) – Charleston Southern midfielder Daniela Contreras (San José, Costa Rica) has been named the Big South Offensive Player of the Week, while UNC Asheville goalkeeper Lexi Dooley (Shamong, N.J.) is the Defensive Player of the Week for matches played during the first week of the regular season, it was announced today. In addition, Longwood forward Peyton Curney (Virginia Beach, Va.) and UNC Asheville forward Karlee Benz (Waxhaw, N.C.) have been selected as Co-Freshmen of the Week. 
 
Contreras registered points in both of Charleston Southern’s matches last week, headlined by an eventual game-winning goal in the Buccaneers’ 3-0 shutout at Delaware State on Saturday. The junior midfielder began the 2023 campaign Thursday by assisting on CSU’s first goal of the season, a first-half equalizer in the 41st minute at Navy. She then opened the scoring on Saturday when she converted on a penalty kick in the 31st minute to propel the Bucs to their first victory of the season. Her three points scored through two matches currently leads the conference. 
 
Dooley shined in UNC Asheville’s win over VMI on Sunday, earning a shutout in goal to solidify the Bulldogs’ first win of the year, 1-0. Making her first start of the season, Dooley made six saves to keep the Keydets off the board, including a critical stop with 1:20 remaining in the first half to send the match into halftime still scoreless. The junior went on to make another big save early in the second half, denying a rebound opportunity at the doorstep to salvage the shutout. She faced 15 shots overall en route to picking up her first win as a Bulldog. 
 
Curney saw action in both matches for Longwood and capped off her first week as a freshman with a game winner at UMBC on Sunday. After playing 37 minutes in her career debut against Richmond on Thursday, she earned her first career start on Sunday, going on to score the only goal of the match – a game winner – to lift the Lancers to their first win of the season, 1-0.  
 
Benz also scored a game winner in the first week of her collegiate career, doing so for UNC Asheville Sunday on the road at VMI. Entering for the first time in the second half, the freshman forward quickly capitalized on a cross from teammate Ava Bjorkman-Tracy, streaking in for the final touch to the upper 90 for a score in the 75th minute. It was her first career shot attempt. The Bulldogs went on to win, 1-0. 
 
Also nominated for Offensive Player of the Week: Lilly Short (Radford), Karlee Benz (UNC Asheville), Dara Russo (USC Upstate) and Sophia Balliett (Winthrop). 
 
Also nominated for Defensive Player of the Week: Jenna Moran (Charleston Southern), Helena Willson (Radford) and Cora Brendle (USC Upstate). 
 
Also nominated for Freshman of the Week: Meg Roden (High Point), Eileen Albers (Radford), Hailey Sapinoro (USC Upstate) and Sophia Balliett (Winthrop).