KANSAS CITY, Mo. –Lauren Engelkes of Taylor (Ind.) has been named the NAIA Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week and Mariana Sanches (JR/Salvador, Brazil) of St. Thomas (Texas) has been named the NAIA National Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week, the national office announced on Tuesday. The duo were chosen for their performances during the week of Oct. 19 – 25 and were selected from a pool of conference and Association of Independent Institutions award winners.
National Offensive Player of the Week
Mariana Sanches, St. Thomas (Texas)
So., F, Salvador, Brazil
• Sanches scored two goals in a 2-0 win over then-No. 20 Houston-Victoria (Texas). Houston-Victoria ranks in the top 25 in the NAIA with six shutouts.
• She has two goals in seven games this season.
• Helped lead St. Thomas to its eighth-consecutive victory.
• This is her first career Player of the Week honor.
For the complete list of all statistical leaders, clickhere.
For the complete player of the week calendar, clickhere.
Offensive Nominees:Jordan McNamara, William Woods (Mo.) ; Madie Easterwood, Reinhardt (Ga.) ; Breanna Larkin, Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) ; Crystal Schuder, Eastern Oregon ; Tori Novak, St. Ambrose (Iowa) ; Bethany Balcer, Spring Arbor (Mich.) ; Katherine Day, San Diego Christian (Calif.) ; Megan Kruse, Hastings (Neb.) ; Taryn Mcclendon, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) ; Morgan Trupp, Ottawa (Kan.) ; Beth Millican, Point Park (Pa.) ; Yvonne Ploeg, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) ; Jastin Redman, John Brown (Ark.) ; Millene Cabral Vieira, Martin Methodist (Tenn.) ; Johanna Engberg, Keiser (Fla.) ; Julia Palushaj, Concordia (Mich.)
Defensive Nominees:Alexandra Lair, Missouri Baptist ; Morgana Hardt Da Silva, Bryan (Tenn.) ; Maggie Morales, UC Merced ; Michelle Ortiz, Trinity International (Ill.) ; Jamie Carter, Carroll (Mont.) ; Kaycee Smith, Vanguard (Calif.) ; Chrissy Lind, Concordia (Neb.) ; Carly Simmons, Culver-Stockton (Mo.) ; Breanna Bodiford, Kansas Wesleyan ; Riley Smith, Asbury (Ky.) ; Johanna Henriksson, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) ; Emma Pinkerton (FR/Kingwood, TX), St. Thomas (Texas) ; Kirsten Thomas, Oklahoma City ; Leah Corse, Mobile (Ala.) ; Ebba Blomqvist, Keiser (Fla.) ; Lindsay Armstrong, Aquinas (Mich.)
2015-16 Women's Soccer Composite Award Winners (Defensive, Offensive)
Week 1 (Sept. 9): Blaire Schmalenberg, Madonna (Mich.) , Betsy Hetrick, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)
Week 2 (Sept. 16): Brittany Lang, William Carey (Miss.) , Jamie Holifield, William Carey (Miss.)
Week 3 (Sept. 23): Tori Ditter, Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) , Samantha Silva, Middle Georgia State
Week 4 (Sept. 30): Samantha Wooster, Houston-Victoria (Texas) , Yvonne Ploeg, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
Week 5 (Oct. 7): Jovana Canales, Bethany (Kan.) , Jamie Holifield, William Carey (Miss.)
Week 6 (Oct. 14): Niccole McGuire, Morningside (Iowa) , Laerke Michaelsen, SCAD Savannah (Ga.)
Week 7 (Oct. 21): Anesa Curic, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) , Julia Schojan, Fisher (Mass.)
Week 8 (Oct. 28): Lauren Engelkes, Taylor (Ind.) , Mariana Sanches, St. Thomas (Texas)
