KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association has announced new women’s soccer athletes of the week from week five of the 2025 season. Pittsburg State’s Sailor Jensen was named the Defender of the Week, while Northwest Missouri’s Makenna West and Lily Ellis were named the Offensive Athlete of the Week and the Goalkeeper of the Week.
OFFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Makenna West, Northwest Missouri
Makenna West recorded a pair of game-winning goals in leading Northwest to a 2-0 week with shutout wins over Central Oklahoma and Newman. West netted the only goal of the day at the 13:18 mark of the first half against Central Oklahoma. It was her second goal of the season. West scored the first of Northwest's three goals at the 24:46 mark of the first half vs. Newman. It was West's third goal of the year.
DEFENDER OF THE WEEK: Sailor Jensen, Pittsburg State
Sailor Jensen helped lead a defensive backline to the fifth shutout performance of the season with a pair of victories over Rogers State (3-0) and Northeastern State (1-0) last weekend. The senior defender from Murray, Utah, collected her fourth goal of the season against RSU to begin the week, with it being the game winner. For the second time this season, she helped the Gorillas in limiting their opponent to finish with no shots in a game against the Hillcats. Jensen currently leads all defenders in the MIAA with four goals on the season.
GOALKEEPER OF THE WEEK: Lily Ellis, Northwest Missouri
Lily Ellis posted back-to-back shutouts with 15 total saves to push her career shutout total to 32. Ellis has posted five shutouts this season. Against UCO, Ellis faced 19 shots and tallied 12 saves in posting a clean sheet. Ellis came back Sunday and faced five shots with three saves in the 3-0 triumph over the Jets. Ellis has generated three consecutive shutouts to begin league play and it has lifted the Bearcats to a tie for first place in the MIAA standings with a 3-0 mark.
OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
Offensive – Ella Favot, Emporia State
Ella Favot continued her contributions as her 80th minute goal against the Fort Hay State Tigers marked the fourth consecutive match with a goal by the freshman. Ella also tallied her first career assist on the opening goal for the Hornets in the fifth minute. She had four shots, two shots on goal and three points as Emporia State moved to 3-0 in MIAA play.
Defender – Emma Cook, Northwest Missouri
Emma Cook played all 180 minutes as a defender in a pair of shutout wins for the Bearcats at home. In Friday's 3-0 win over Central Oklahoma, Cook and the Bearcats held UCO to 19 shots (12 on-goal). In Sunday's 1-0 victory over Newman, Cook the defense limited the Jets to only five shots (two in first half; three in second half) as the Bearcats improved to 3-0 in MIAA play.
Defender – Maddy Harmon, Missouri Western
Maddy Harmon played key minutes for Missouri Western, helping guide the Griffons to a 3-0 win over Newman and a 0-0 draw against Central Oklahoma. Against Newman (10/03), Harmon tallied one assist — her first of the season — setting up a scoring play in the first half as the Griffons powered past the Jets. She finished the match with one shot and logged 45 minutes of action. Harmon also anchored the Griffon defense, which limited Newman to just three total shot attempts — only one on goal — and denied the Jets any corner kicks throughout the match. Two days later vs. Central Oklahoma (10/05), Harmon was again a steady presence on the pitch, recording 82 minutes in a defensive battle that ended scoreless.
Goalkeeper – Jocelyn Kramar, Pittsburg State
Jocelyn Kramar helped the Gorillas shut out the Rogers State Hillcats (3-0) and Northeastern State RiverHawks (1-0) at home this past week. The Fort Collins, Colo., native recorded her fifth shutout of the season with five saves against NSU. Kramar marshalled the defensive unit to not allow RSU to fire off a single shot to begin the week, marking the second time this season the Gorillas have held their opponent without a shot in a match. Currently, Kramar is the MIAA leader in GAA (0.437) and Shutouts (5), ranking 13th in Division II for Shutouts and 18th for GAA.
ALSO NOMINATED:
OFFENSIVE – Sydney Cotter [Fort Hays State], Aidyn Woodall [Missouri Western], Hannah Anderson [Northeastern State], Leah Henke [Washburn]
DEFENDERS – Riley Jensen [Nebraska Kearney]
GOALKEEPERS – Morgan Byrd [Missouri Western], Susie Bovaird [Nebraska Kearney], Rebecca Partyka [Northeastern State], Lili Everley [Washburn]
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 – Shaye Taylor, Washburn
Goalkeeper – Lili Everley, Washburn
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