Women's Team of the Week: Oct. 2-8

by TopDrawerSoccer

October 10, 2017

The SEC is going through something of a revival this season.

Eight programs sit in the Top 40 of this week’s RPI, and it looks to be a banner year for the conference come selection Sunday.

One of those programs enjoying success this year is Tennessee. The Volunteers picked up two more wins last week in wild fashion, beating Mississippi 6-4 on Thursday, and edging Missouri by a 3-2 score on Sunday. The TDS Player of the Week was at the heart of both wins, as Khadija Shaw scored once and added two helpers in the first game, and tallied the winner in the second.

Player of the Week: Khadija Shaw, Tennessee

The transfer’s been one of the best new players in the college game, scoring 11 goals in 11 games, while chipping in four assists. Her shift was one of a handful of impressive individual efforts over the past week.

GK Emily Boyd, California – Heading on the road for a pair of tricky Pac-12 games, a solid effort from Boyd snared a pair of wins. She made a combined 14 saves across two matches, both shutouts against Utah and Colorado.

D Alana Cook, Stanford – Like the Golden Bears, Stanford alternated games in Utah and Colorado. Cook back-stopper two more shutouts, as the Cardinal conceded just one shot on goal in the two games.

D Abby Small, UMKC(w) – It was a big weekend for UMKC, which shutout WAC foes Utah Valley and Seattle U over the weekend. Small played the full 90 in each contest, which both ended by a 3-0 score.

D Brittany Basinger, Penn State – The outside back started both games, wins over Michigan and Michigan State, scoring the game winner against the former and adding an assist against the Spartans.

D Eliza Harris, Navy – It was a critical win in the Patriot League race for Navy, which beat Boston University 1-0 in Annapolis over the weekend. Harris went the full 90 and helped Navy keep the clean sheet.

M Ella Stevens, Duke – A strong sophomore season continued for Stevens, as she setup a goal against NC State on Thursday, and notched the game-winning goal in Duke’s 2-0 defeat of Florida State.

M Nicole Molen, USC – The defending champions are quietly having an excellent season, and it continued on a road swing to Arizona. Molen contributed in a pair of wins over Arizona and Arizona State, setting up the game-winning goal in the win over the Sun Devils.

F Morgan Ferrara, UCF – Another monster weekend for Ferrara in American Athletic play saw UCF’s surge continue. The striker tallied four times in wins against Houston and SMU. That haul makes it nine goals from four games for the senior.

F Khadija Shaw, Tennessee – Shaw has been a revelation throughout the season at Tennessee, as the Volunteers early season success has carried over into SEC play.

F Deanne Rose, Florida – A strong season continued for the Canadian freshman, as she scored twice in a 3-0 win over Vanderbilt on Sunday. She also assisted on a goal in Thursday’s win over Missouri.

F Alessia Russo, North Carolina – The English striker is heating up for the Blue Devils, and now has goals in four straight games. Russio tallied the winning strikes against Miami (FL) and Wake Forest, scoring twice against the Demon Deacons.

Honorable Mention: F Michaela Morris (UNLV), D Gabby Seiler (Florida), F Courtney O’Brien (Princeton), F Summer Mason (San Diego), F Sarah Segan (William & Mary), F Michaela Abam (West Virginia)