Women’s Soccer Player of the Week: Rachael Sweigard, Columbus State
Sweigard recorded a hat trick as No. 4 Columbus State clinched the regular-season championship on Sunday. The graduate senior scored three of the four goals in a 4-0 shutout over North Georgia. Sweigard netted the opening goal in the 4th minute before finding the back of the net again in the 47th and 62nd minutes. It was her second career hat trick and the first since her freshman season. She is third in the conference in goals (14) and points (34).
Women’s Soccer Defender of the Week: Maria Kilset, Columbus State
Kilset guided a Cougar defense to a pair of shutout wins last week as CSU won the PBC regular-season championship. The graduate student from Drammen, Norway, guided the defense to a 1-0 win over #11 Catawba, handing the Indians their first loss of the season and second shutout. CSU then held North Georgia to eight shots in a 4-0 win, the fifth straight shutout victory for the Cougars and eighth in their last nine games. Kilset was also active on the offensive end, providing two assists on CSU’s second and third goals and then scoring the fourth goal. Columbus State is currently tied for eighth in NCAA Division II in team goals against average and tied for seventh nationally in shutout percentage.
Women’s Soccer Goalkeeper of the Week: Emily Worrell, USC Beaufort
Worrell recorded her league-leading seventh shutout of the season as the Sand Sharks completed their first season of PBC play. She opened her week turning away a barrage of shots from North Georgia in a loss, making nine saves as the Nighthawks outshot USCB 26-2. She then made five saves in a scoreless tie at Georgia Southwestern on Saturday, playing all 180 minutes on the week. That was her seventh shutout of the season to lead the league. She is second in the PBC in minutes played, third in save percentage and saves per game and fourth in goals allowed average.
For a complete list of women’s soccer weekly award winners, please click here.