Big South Announces Women's Soccer Players of the Week - Sept. 14

Big South Announces Women's Soccer Players of the Week - Sept. 14

Bookmark and Share

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) – UNC Asheville midfielder Makayla Cihlar (Rockville, Md.) and Winthrop midfielder Monssi Avila-Gutierrez (North Augusta, S.C.) have been named the Big South Women’s Soccer Co-Offensive Players of the Week, while Radford goalkeeper Lexi Radvanyi (Leesburg, Va.) is the Defensive Player of the Week for matches played Sept. 7-13, it was announced today. In addition, USC Upstate forward Jasmyn Mitchner (Tampa, Fla.) has been selected as the Freshman of the Week.
 
Cihlar totaled three goals and six points to help lead UNC Asheville to a pair of non-conference wins. The sophomore opened the week by scoring the game-winning goal in the 59th minute, providing the only goal in Thursday’s 1-0 victory over Davidson. She followed with her first career brace in Sunday’s 5-1 win over VMI. Cihlar scored on all three of her shots during the week while playing 81 total minutes.
 
Avila-Gutierrez recorded a hat trick on Senior Day, scoring all three of Winthrop’s goals in a 3-0 victory over South Carolina State on Sunday. The North Augusta, S.C., native opened the scoring with the eventual game-winning goal in the ninth minute before converting a penalty kick in the 83rd minute and completing the hat trick in the 88th. It marked the first hat trick by a Winthrop women’s soccer player since 2022. Avila-Gutierrez scored on all three of her shots in 73 minutes against the Bulldogs after playing 85 minutes earlier in the week against Wofford.
 
Radvanyi made six saves while facing 21 shots in Radford’s 1-1 draw against ETSU on Sunday. The senior came up with a key save in the 32nd minute, punching a dangerous attempt over the crossbar to preserve Radford’s 1-0 lead at the time. She added two saves in the second half, including a final-second stop to keep ETSU off the board and preserve the draw. The Buccaneers’ 21 shots and seven shots on goal were both season highs. Radvanyi played all 90 minutes in goal and finished with a .857 save percentage.
 
Mitchner scored the game-tying goal in USC Upstate’s 2-2 draw at Furman, capping the Spartans’ comeback after they trailed by two goals just over six minutes into the match. The freshman found the back of the net in the 78th minute on an assist from Liana Bryant to pull Upstate level. Mitchner scored on her only shot of the match while playing all 90 minutes. She also played 75 minutes in Sunday’s 3-1 win over Queens.
 
Also nominated for Offensive Player of the Week: Ciaira Anderson (Radford) and Lily MacCausland (USC Upstate).
 
Also nominated for Defensive Player of the Week: Annabelle Wunderlich (USC Upstate).
 
Also nominated for Freshman of the Week: Ezrah Rubabaza (Radford).