KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association has announced new women’s soccer athletes of the week from week seven of the 2025 season. Northwest Missouri’s Makenna West and Lily Ellis were named the Offensive Athlete of the Week and the Goalkeeper of the Week, while Missouri Western’s Nicoletta Froehlich was selected as the Defender of the Week.
OFFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Makenna West, Northwest Missouri
Makenna West led the Bearcat offense over the week with a goal in both of Northwest's MIAA home wins over Fort Hays State and Nebraska Kearney. The junior forward scored the second goal of the match in Friday's 2-0 triumph over Fort Hays State in the 77th minute. She then posted the game-winning goal in the 20th minute to lift the Bearcats to a 1-0 win over Nebraska Kearney on Sunday. It was West's team-leading fourth game-winning goal of the season, as she now leads the Bearcats with five goals. This is West’s second Offensive Athlete of the Week honor this season, also earning the title in week five.
DEFENDER OF THE WEEK: Nicoletta Froehlich, Missouri Western
Nicoletta Froehlich showcased her versatility as a true two-way player this past weekend, logging all 180 minutes across MoWest’s shutout victories over Nebraska Kearney (2-0) and Fort Hays State (1-0). While contributing offensively with one assist, Froehlich’s consistent presence in the midfield and defensive third helped anchor a Griffon back line that didn’t allow a single goal in either match.
GOALKEEPER OF THE WEEK: Lily Ellis, Northwest Missouri
Lily Ellis collected back-to-back conference shutouts on the weekend to move her season total to eight clean sheets, including six shutouts in MIAA play. The senior keeper made 10 saves in Friday's 2-0 win over Fort Hays State before adding six more in Sunday's 1-0 triumph over Nebraska Kearney. This marks Ellis’s second Goalkeeper of the Week honor, also earning the award in week five.
OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
Offensive – Rachyl Benavides, Missouri Western
Rachyl Benavides delivered a strong offensive performance over the weekend, totaling three points across MoWest’s two in-conference shutout victories. The senior forward found the back of the net in the Griffons’ 2-0 win against Nebraska Kearney before adding an assist in the 1-0 victory over Fort Hays State, contributing to the Griffons’ combined 3-0 scoring margin. Averaging one shot per game with a .500 shooting percentage, Benavides proved to be an efficient playmaker, also recording the game-winning goal versus the Lopers.
Offensive – Megan Kephart, Emporia State
Megan Kephart scored both goals in the Hornets’ match against the Hillcats last Friday, with the first coming from outside the box and the second coming off a header. Against the Riverhawks, Megan also assisted the lone Hornet goal, giving her five points on the week. She is now tied for second in points in MIAA action this season.
Defender – Emma Cook, Northwest Missouri
Emma Cook played all 90 minutes in a pair of shutout victories for the Bearcats in MIAA action. Cook has helped produce eight shutouts (six in MIAA play) this season. The junior defender won nine duels and posted multiple interceptions in Northwest’s 2-0 shutout of Fort Hays State before adding two duels and had seven interceptions in the 1-0 win over Nebraska-Kearney.
Goalkeeper – Morgan Byrd, Missouri Western
Morgan Byrd continued her strong play in goal for MoWest, helping the Griffons post back-to-back MIAA shutouts against Nebraska Kearney and Fort Hays State. Byrd played 45 minutes in the 2-0 win over the Lopers, stopping the only shot she faced before returning to the net for a full 90 minutes against the Tigers. In Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Fort Hays, she tallied a career-high seven saves to preserve the clean sheet.
Goalkeeper – Kristen Wright, Central Missouri
Kristen Wright collected a pair of MIAA shutouts in goal last week, helping the No. 9-ranked Jennies to a 0-0 tie at Central Oklahoma and a 3-0 shutout win at Newman. On the week, the junior keeper made six saves while allowing zero goals in 180 minutes for a 0.00 goals-against average. Wright made three saves in each contest and now ranks second in the MIAA in shutouts this season with seven.
ALSO NOMINATED:
OFFENSIVE
– Hazel Douglas-Trotman [Central Missouri], Delana King [Rogers State]
DEFENDERS – Rilyn Snyder [Washburn], Kelsey Hogan [Rogers State]
GOALKEEPERS – Avery Bass [Central Oklahoma], Calais Butts [Rogers State]
WEEK ONE:
Offensive – Delphine Sosu, Newman
Defender – Maddy Harmon, Missouri Western
Goalkeeper – Morgan Byrd, Missouri Western
WEEK TWO:
Offensive – Mikayla Ernst, Central Missouri
Defender – Saylor Richard, Fort Hays State
Goalkeeper – Kristen Wright, Central Missouri
WEEK THREE:
Offensive – Mikayla Ernst, Central Missouri
Defender – Saylor Richard, Fort Hays State
Goalkeeper – Kristen Wright, Central Missouri
WEEK FOUR:
Offensive – Ella Favot, Emporia State
Defender – Emma Cook, Northwest Missouri
Goalkeeper – Lili Everley, Washburn
WEEK FIVE:
Offensive – Makenna West, Northwest Missouri
Defender – Sailor Jensen, Pittsburg State
Goalkeeper – Lily Ellis, Northwest Missouri
WEEK SIX:
Offensive – Jane Lockhart, Central Oklahoma
Defender – Mackenzie Smith, Central Missouri
Goalkeeper – Mackenzi Goen, Emporia State
WEEK SEVEN:
Offensive – Makenna West, Northwest Missouri
Defender – Nicoletta Froehlich, Missouri Western
Goalkeeper – Lily Ellis, Northwest Missouri