KANSAS CITY, Mo. (October 25, 2023) – United Soccer Coaches announced its College Player of the Week awards on Wednesday afternoon, with eight student-athletes representing NCAA Division I, II, III, and NJCAA men’s and women’s soccer. NCAA Division I Men: Evan Southern (James Madison) NCAA Division I Women: Dara Russo (USC Upstate) NCAA Division II Men: James Lynch (Delta State) NCAA Division II Women: Mia Klammer (Saint Rose) NCAA Division III Men: Juan Camacho (Mount Aloysius) NCAA Division III Women: Yaneli Sanchez (Methodist)?? Junior College Men: Marvin Koceku (SUNY Fulton-Montgomery) Junior College Women: Kristen Phillips (Holmes)
Evan Southern | Dara Russo |
Evan Southern helped James Madison snap a seven-match winless streak with a 2-0 week where he scored four goals, including a hat trick in the win against Georgia State. It is the first overall JMU hat trick since 2019 and the first road hat trick since 2019. The hat trick represents the first for Southern at the Division I level after transferring from Iowa Western CC prior to last season.Russo combined for nine points on four goals and one assist in two wins for the Spartans. She opened the week with three goals on six shots in just 39 minutes against South Carolina State, her second hat trick of the season. Russo then helped open the scoring on Saturday with an assist to Ashley Finn in the eighth minute prior to netting a goal of her own in the 20th as Upstate returned to conference play with a 4-0 home win over Presbyterian.
James Lynch | Mia Klammer |
James Lynch tallied eight points for the Statesmen as he scored three goals and two assists for the week. He scored once in a 3-1 win over Lee, then scored two in a 4-2 win over Shorter, while picking up two assists as well.Mia Klammer added nine more points to her season haul, as she tallied at least one goal and one assist in both victories for No. 4 Saint Rose this week. She began with two goals and a helper on Wednesday’s 6-0 win versus American International followed by two goals and an assist in a 4-0 win over Bridgeport on Saturday.
Juan Camacho | Yaneli Sanchez |
Juan Camacho helped the team break the program record for largest win and most goals scored in a game this week, in addition to breaking the program record for individual points in a game (9) as he scored three goals and added three assists in just 20 minutes of action.Yaneli Sanchez was named the USA South Women’s Soccer Rookie of the Week after registering a season-high eight points against N.C. Wesleyan. She recorded her second career hat trick and captured two assists.
Marvin Koceku | Kristen Phillips |
Marvin Koceku tallied nine points this week in three games. He collected one goal in the Raider’s’ 2-0 win against Hudson Valley Community College, following up that performance with another goal in a 4-0 win against Bryant and Stratton Albany. Koceku finished off his week by scoring one final goal against Jefferson Community College on Wednesday. | Kristen Phillips had an outstanding week finishing with three consecutive hat tricks in wins over Hinds, LSU-Eunice and East Mississippi. She had nine goals and four assists on the week.
Each Wednesday during the college regular season, United Soccer Coaches selects a men’s and women’s Player of the Week for NCAA Divisions I, II, and III and Junior College competition based on nominations from schools and conferences. Nominations are due every Tuesday by 10 a.m. CT to be considered.