KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association has announced new women’s soccer athletes of the week from week two of the 2025 season. Central Missouri forward Mikayla Ernst and goalkeeper Kristen Wright calmed week two’s Offensive Athlete of the Week and Goalkeeper or the Week honors while Fort Hays State’s Saylor Richard was named the Defender of the Week.
OFFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Mikayla Ernst, Central Missouri
Mikayla Ernst led the Jennies offense to a 1-1 on the week, which included a 2-0 shutout win over No. 12 Ashland and a narrow, 2-1 setback at No. 4 Grand Valley State. Ernst netted a brace in Central Missouri’s road win in Ashland last Friday (Sept. 12), scoring goals in the 26th and 64th minutes against the No. 12-ranked Eagles. The junior forward then added an assist on Aspen Patterson's goal just three minutes into UCM’s 2-1 match against the No. 4-ranked Lakers in Grand Rapids, Mich., this past Sunday (Sept. 14). On the week, Ernst had two goals and one assist for five points. She also placed three of her five total shots on goal for a .600 shots on goal percentage.
DEFENDER OF THE WEEK: Saylor Richard, Fort Hays State
Saylor Richard played all 180 minutes possible for the week as the Tigers went 1-1 against non-conference competition at home. Richard and the Fort Hays State defense allowed just one goal and six shots on goal in both matches. In the Tigers 3-0 shutout of Southwest Minnesota State, Richard’s pass into the box off a penalty kick turned into a shot when the ball bounced up over the keeper's head and into the net for the opening goal of the match. The junior defender took two shots over the weekend with both falling on frame.
GOALKEEPER OF THE WEEK: Kristen Wright, Central Missouri
Kristen Wright helped the Jennies go 1-1 on the week with a 2-0 shutout at No. 12 Ashland and a narrow 2-1 setback at No. 4 Grand Valley State. The junior keeper earned her second shutout of the season in goal in UCM's 2-0 triumph over the No. 12-ranked Eagles on Sept. 12, giving up no goals while making six saves in 90 minutes. She then added six saves in the Jennies' match against the No.4-ranked team in Division II. On the week, Wright went 1-1 with 12 saves and two goals allowed for a 1.00 goals-against average.
OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
Offensive – Daniella Marquez, Missouri Southern
Daniella Marquez scored in back-to-back matches as the Lions went 1-1 playing on the road in Oklahoma and Texas. The freshman midfielder netted the game-winning goal in Southern’s 2-0 win at Paul Quinn on Sept. 11 and added another against Southwestern Oklahoma on Sept. 14. Marquez finished the week with three total shots and two goals in the two matches.
Offensive – Emma Kolbe, Newman
Emma Kolbe scored six points over the weekend as the Jets battled Southwestern Oklahoma State and Oklahoma Christian on the road. In a loss to SWOSU, Kolbe was credited with two assists in her 67 minutes of play. The junior midfielder then netted a goal to help Newman secure a 2-2 draw in the match against OCU. After two weeks of play, Kolbe sits at third in the MIAA in points, sixth in assists, and eighth in goals.
Defender – Sailor Jensen, Pittsburg State
Sailor Jensen helped the Gorillas to a pair of non-conference road wins last week against Southwest Baptist and Southern Nazarene. The senior defender from Murray, Utah, and the Pitt State defense allowed just eight shots, four on goal, and one goal in the two matches. Jensen assisted the Gorillas offense as well, scoring twice against former MIAA foe Southwest Baptist while firing off four shots on goal. She was also a driving force in the Gorilla defense that resulted in a 1-0 shutout performance against Southern Nazarene, allowing the Crimson Storm to have no shots on goal from only two shots total in the match.
Goalkeeper – Lily Ellis, Northwest Missouri
Lily Ellis registered 16 saves in two matches as Northwest went 1-1 in non-conference play. In a 1-0 win at Missouri-St. Louis, Ellis was credited with seven saves as she picked up her 24th career victory in goal for the Bearcats. It was her 29th career shutout, which ranks second among NCAA Division II active players. The senior from Kearney, Mo., also registered nine saves in a 2-1 setback at Maryville. Ellis’s 16 saves and .889 save percentage led all MIAA goalkeepers in week two.
ALSO NOMINATED:
OFFENSIVE
– Leah Henke [Washburn], Margaret Madden [Northwest Missouri], Sydney Cotter [Fort Hays State], Aidyn Woodall [Missouri Western]
DEFENDERS – Peyton Pipes [Emporia State], Nicoletta Froehlich [Missouri Western]
GOALKEEPERS – Jocelyn Kramar [Pittsburg State], Hadley Ostrander [Fort Hays State], Morgan Byrd [Missouri Western]
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