Leach named USA South Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
By Chuck Tidmore
Sports Information Assistant
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Sophomore goalkeeper Leah Leach was named a USA South Athletic Conference Athlete of the Week on Monday.
Leach was named Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week for her performance from this past week.
Leach posted a 1-1-1 record, all against USA South opponents. She tallied 22 saves and allowed one goal in 290 minutes of play. Leach is currently ranked second in program history with nine shutouts, five this season and four in 2015, dating back to 2006. Jenny Burnash recorded 13 shutouts in four years a Hawk.
In Wednesday's 2-0 win over LaGrange, Leach stopped all three shots she faced. In Friday's 1-0 loss to Covenant, Leach recorded seven saves.
On Saturday, the Hawks snapped a 16-game NCAA-era losing streak to Maryville, as the battled to a 0-0 double-overtime draw against the Scots. Leach recorded a season-high 12 saves as Maryville took 28 total shots.
Below is the complete list of the USA South Athletes of the Week.
MEN'S SOCCER
Men's Soccer Player of the Week
Caleb Lucas, Maryville - The senior forward from Maryville, Tennessee tallied three goals and two assists in a 2-0 week for the Scots versus USA South competition. In a 4-0 win over LaGrange, Lucas assisted on the match's first goal. In a 7-2 victory over Huntingdon, Lucas notched a hat trick with three goals, which included the eventual game-winning goal, and added an assist. Also Nominated: Carlos Barragan, Greensboro; Luke Martin, Piedmont; Seth Harrison, Methodist; David Cuperman, Averett.
Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Jonathan Moore, Methodist - The junior goalkeeper from Linden, North Carolina notched two shutouts in a 2-0 week versus USA South competition. In 180 minutes in goal, Moore stopped all five shots he faced to extend his shutout streak to just shy of 375 minutes. In a 4-0 win over Averett, Moore made three saves. In a 2-0 victory over Covenant, Moore pushed aside two shots. Also Nominated: Jaime Payamps, Greensboro; Thomas Palmer, Maryville; Chris Keller, Piedmont; Joseph Brooks, N.C. Wesleyan; Austin Bramhall, Averett.
Men's Soccer Rookie of the Week
Luke Martin, Piedmont - The freshman forward from Atlanta, Georgia scored two goals with one assist in a 6-2 victory over USA South foe Huntingdon in the team's only contest last week. Martin was involved in the Lions' first three goals of the game, scoring the first and third which was the eventual game-winner. Also Nominated: Sisay Sendek, Greensboro; Chris Fernandez, Maryville; Shamarr Perry, Ferrum; Baboucarr Njie, N.C. Wesleyan; Oscar Lara, Averett.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Women's Soccer Player of the Week
Jasmine Newman, Methodist - The Bethesda, Maryland junior forward tallied four goals and one assist in a 2-1 week for the Monarchs versus USA South opposition. In a 3-2, double-overtime, win over N.C. Wesleyan, Newman scored the team's first goal and assisted on the game-tying tally. In a 5-0 victory over Averett, Newman scored twice to give Methodist 2-0 and 4-0 leads in the second half. Finally, in a 2-1 loss to Meredith, Newman scored in the 83rd minute to bring the Monarchs to within one goal but it proved not to be enough. Also Nominated: Sarah Wickman, Maryville; Savannah Castles, Piedmont; Lauren Greeson, Greensboro; Jordan Lanier, Salem; Annalies Jobsis, Averett.
Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Leah Leach, Huntingdon- The Palm Coast, Florida sophomore goalkeeper allowed just one goal and posted two shutouts in a 1-1-1 week for the Hawks versus USA South competition. In 290 minutes in net, Leach made 22 saves. In a 2-0 win over LaGrange, Leach stopped both shots she faced. In a 1-0 loss to division-leading Covenant, Leach made seven saves. Finally, in a scoreless, double-overtime, tie with Maryville, Leach collected 12 saves. The tie snapped a 16-game NCAA-era losing streak to Maryville. Also Nominated: Eleni Mavres, Maryville; Ashlyn Atnip, Piedmont; Hannah Stiles, Greensboro; Ashley Major, N.C. Wesleyan; Sydney Priest, Salem; Bailee Brown, Averett; Kaitlyn Winking, Covenant.
Women's Soccer Rookie of the Week
Payton Stuart, Ferrum - The Christiansburg, Virginia freshman forward tallied three goals in a 1-1 week for the Pantheres versus USA South competition. In a 7-0 win over William Peace, Stuart notched her first-career hat trick by scoring the team's first three goals of the match. In a 2-1, overtime, loss to Greensboro, Stuart was held scoreless but did manage one shot on goal. Also Nominated: Hannah Clothier, Maryville; Devin D'Agostin, Greensboro; Victoria Burkhart, N.C. Wesleyan; Anna Robertson, Covenant; Kirsten Clancy, Averett; Mary Ormsby, Salem.
VOLLEYBALL
Volleyball Player of the Week
Hannah Shields, Averett - The junior outside hitter from Keeling, Virginia averaged 6.07 kills and 2.79 digs per set as the Cougars posted a 4-0 record last week versus USA South competition. In a 3-2 win over Maryville, Shields tallied a double-double of 29 kills and 13 digs with three assists and three service aces. In a 3-0 victory over Wesleyan, Shields played just one set and totaled five kills with one dig. In a 3-0 win over Salem, Shields notched a double-double with 16 kills and ten digs with one assist, one service ace and one block. Finally, in a 3-2 victory over defending conference champions, Covenant, Shields posted a double-double of a career-high 35 digs to go along with 15 digs, four blocks, two assists and two service aces. Also Nominated: Nia Haller, Maryville; Evan Sherer, Greensboro; Kylie Taffer, Salem; Caroline Corey, Meredith; Cassidy Hayes, Methodist; Liana Solomon, William Peace.
Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
Christina Huber, N.C. Wesleyan - The senior defensive specialist from Virginia Beach, Virginia averaged 5.50 digs per set as the Bishops posted a 3-2 record last week. In a 3-0 loss to Randolph-Macon, Huber totaled 16 digs. In a 3-0 win over USA South foe Huntingdon, Huber collected 24 digs and two assists. In a 3-1 loss to USA South rival Agnes Scott, Huber compiled 22 digs. In a 3-0 victory over USA South foe LaGrange, Huber posted nine digs, two assists, two service aces and one kill. Finally, in a 3-0 win over USA South rival Piedmont, Huber contributed 17 digs and four assists. Also Nominated: Kaitlyn Flickinger, Maryville; Tori Belcher, Greensboro; Katelyn Durmire, Piedmont; Bernisha Master, Salem; Hannah Stewart, Covenant; Emily Stanley, Averett; Carson Williams, William Peace.
Volleyball Rookie of the Week
Saidee McDaniel, Maryville - The freshman right side hitter/setter from Hendersonville, Tennessee averaged 9.39 assists and 3.28 digs per set as the Scots posted a 4-1 record last week. In a 3-0 win over Emory & Henry, McDaniel posted a double-double of 28 assists and ten digs with three service aces and two kills. In a 3-2 loss to USA South foe Averett, McDaniel tallied a double-double of 44 assists and 11 digs with four kills. In a 3-0 victory over USA South rival Greensboro, McDaniel totaled 29 assists, nine digs and two kills. In a 3-0 win over USA South foe Methodist, McDaniel contributed a double-double of 27 assists and 12 digs with three kills. Finally, in a 3-1 victory over USA South rival William Peace, McDaniel posted a double-double of 41 assists and 17 digs with three service aces and one kill. Also Nominated: Cece Cogliano, Piedmont; Hannah Delcamp, Salem; Caroline Corey, Meredith; Autumn Spence, N.C. Wesleyan; Brianna Williams, Averett; Mya Parks, William Peace; Devyn Stringer, Huntingdon.
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Melissa Teeple, Ferrum - The junior from Callaway, Virginia placed 4th out of 125 runners at the Greensboro, NC Cross Country Invitational last week. Teeple completed the 5K course in a time of 19:43, helping the Panthers to a tenth place team finish. Also Nominated: Sierra Henderson, Averett; Macy Brinson, Meredith.
Women's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
Caitlin Kemp, Meredith - The freshman from Garner, North Carolina placed 44th out of 68 runners at the Wingate University Bulldog Stampede last week. Kemp completed the 6K course in a time of 28:53, helping the Avenging Angels to a fifth place team finish. Also Nominated: None.
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