KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association has announced new women’s soccer athletes of the week. Three student-athletes earned MIAA weekly honors with their performances in Week Eight of the 2024 season.
OFFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Alix Tirado-Negrette, Rogers State
Alix Tirado-Negrete led the Hillcats to a 1-0-1 record last week a win over Newman and a 2-2 draw against Central Oklahoma. In the 4-1 victory over Newman, the senior forward posted her first career hat trick, scoring three of the Hillcats four goals. Against the Bronchos, Tirado-Negrete added her fourth score of the week on a penalty kick in the 86th minute to kick-start a Rogers State comeback from down 2-0. Tirado-Negrete is Rogers State’s first MIAA Athlete of the Week this season.
DEFENDER OF THE WEEK: Lauren Nylund, Missouri Western
Lauren Nylund helped anchor the Missouri Western defense that collected a pair of shutouts and extended the season shutout streak to eight matches. In 1-0 wins against both Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern, Nylund and the Griffon defense held the Gorillas to just three shots and the Lions to seven. The senior played the entire 180 minutes on the defensive side of the pitch. She also added a shot that deflected off the crossbar against the Lions. This is Nylund’s fourth MIAA Defender of the Week honor and the sixth overall Defender of the Week honor for the Griffons this season.
GOALKEEPER OF THE WEEK: Keeley Kroonenberg, Missouri Western
Keeley Kroonenberg improved hers season record to 12-0-2 last week as the Griffons picked up wins over Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern at home. The senior collected her sixth straight and seventh total shutout of the year in the 1-0 win against the Gorillas. Kroonenberg then combined for a shutout on Senior Day win the 1-0 win against the Lions. She finished the two matches with three combined saves. This marks Kroonenberg’s second MIAA Goalkeeper of the Week honor this season.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
OFFENSIVE
Khloe Shuckman, Washburn
Khloe Schuckman continued her goal-scoring tear, finding the net in both MIAA matches against Central Missouri and Fort Hays State on the road last weekend. In the Ichabods 1-0 win in Warrensburg, Schuckman scored the game-winner in the 89th minute to break a scoreless tie against the Jennies. In the Ichabods 2-1 loss in Hays, the senior forward equalized the match with the Tigers in the 65th minute for her second goal of the week. Schuckman has now scored goals in three consecutive matches for the Ichabods.
Harmony Turner, Central Oklahoma
Harmony Turner found the back of the net in both matches as the Bronchos went 1-0-1 at home. The senior defender scored the game-winning goal in Central Oklahoma's 1-0 win over rival Northeastern State last Friday night before scoring her second goal of the week in UCO's 2-2 draw with Rogers on Sunday.
DEFENDERS
Sailor Jensen, Pittsburg State
Sailor Jensen helped lead the Gorillas back line to a 1-0 shutout win on the road against Northwest Missouri last week. The junior from Murray, Utah helped the cause with the game-winning header of a corner kick, marking her first goal at Pittsburg State. She played all 90 minutes in both the win over the Bearcats in Maryville and the 1-0 loss to Missouri Western in St. Joseph. Jensen has helped the inaugural Gorillas team to be in contention for a spot in the MIAA Tournament by playing an integral part in three shutouts during conference action. She leads the team with 1202 minutes played.
GOALKEEPERS
Jocelyn Kramer, Pittsburg State
Jocelyn Kramer didn’t allow a goal last week in 135 minutes of action against the conference-leading Missouri Western and claimed a full 90-minute shutout win against Northwest Missouri on the road. For the week the freshman from Fort Collins, Colo., totaled 11 saves in the net and allowed just one goal. For the season, Kramer has claimed three shutouts – all against MIAA opponents – and has recorded 54 total saves in 1044 minutes between the sticks.
Rebecca Partyka, Northeastern State
Rebecca Partyka collected 15 saves while saving a combined 27 shots in Northeastern State’s MIAA road matches over the weekend. The freshman made nine saves and allowed two goals in the RiverHawks 2-0 loss to Central Oklahoma. She also added six saves in NSU’s 2-0 shutout of Newman.
ALSO NOMINATED
OFFENSIVE: Caroline Cole (Central Missouri), Sydney Hammett (Missouri Western), Allison Worley (Fort Hays State), Olivia Kucharyski (Northeastern State), Daniella Iaquinta (Nebraska Kearney)
DEFENDERS: Lexis Walls (Northeastern State), Morgan Martucci (Rogers State), Kelly Sullivan (Fort Hays State)
GOALKEEPERS: Mackenzie Caldwell (Fort Hays State), Marlou Frieling (Rogers State)
2024 MIAA WOMEN’S SOCCER ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
WEEK ONE:
Offensive – Caroline Cole, Central Missouri
Defender – Lauren Nylund, Missouri Western
Goalkeeper – Rebecca Partyka, Northeastern State
WEEK TWO:
Offensive – Ximena Arnau, Northwest Missouri
Defender – Lauren Nylund, Missouri Western
Goalkeeper – Lilly Ellis, Northwest Missouri
WEEK THREE:
Offensive – Hannah Anderson, Northeastern State
Defender – Emily Hutchings, Fort Hays State
Goalkeeper – Mackenzie Caldwell, Fort Hays State
WEEK FOUR:
Offensive – Corinne Stewart, Missouri Western
Defender – Lauren Nylund, Missouri Western
Co-Goalkeeper – Mackenzie Caldwell, Fort Hays State
Co-Goalkeeper – Hailey Beck, Washburn
WEEK FIVE:
Offensive – Ashleigh Martin, Central Missouri
Defender – Nicoletta Froehlich, Missouri Western
Co-Goalkeeper – Lily Ellis, Northwest Missouri
Co-Goalkeeper – Keeley Kroonenberg, Missouri Western
WEEK SIX:
Offensive – Rebecca Tweedy, Central Oklahoma
Defender – Annie McDevitt, Missouri Western
Goalkeeper – Avery Bass, Central Oklahoma
WEEK SEVEN:
Offensive – Izzy Joyce, Central Missouri
Defender – Josie Boyle, Washburn
Goalkeeper – Kristen Wright, Central Missouri
WEEK EIGHT:
Offensive – Alix Tirado-Negrete, Rogers State
Defender – Lauren Nylund, Missouri Western
Goalkeeper – Keeley Kroonenberg, Missouri Western