KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Oct. 15, 2019) – United Soccer Coaches announced its College Player of the Week awards on Tuesday afternoon with eight student-athletes representing all three NCAA divisions, and two representatives from the junior college ranks, being honored.
NCAA Division I Men: Rodney Michael (UC Santa Barbara)
NCAA Division I Women: Anna Podojil (Arkansas)
NCAA Division II Men: Magnus Andersen (Missouri-St. Louis)
NCAA Division II Women: Makayla Toth (Central Missouri)
NCAA Division III Men: Aidan Wood (Hamilton College)
NCAA Division III Women: Brianna Williams (Arcadia University)
Junior College Men: Salvatore Ficarotta (Bucks County CC)
Junior College Women: Cariel Ellis (Holmes CC)
In NCAA Division I, UC Santa Barbara junior forward Rodney Michael (Freetown, Sierra Leone) had two goals and two assists for six points in helping lead the Gauchos to a pair of wins, including an upset over No. 24 Cal State Fullerton. He scored in each game and assisted on both game-winners. Arkansas freshman forward Anna Podojil (Cincinnati, Ohio) scored four goals last week, including her first career hat trick against Mississippi State.
In NCAA Division II, Missouri-St. Louis senior forward Magnus Andersen (Koge, Denmark) scored four goals last week, including a hat trick against Missouri S&T and the game-winner in a 1-0 upset over second-ranked Maryville. Central Missouri junior forward Makayla Toth (Wichita, Kan.) had a hand in all five goals last week for the Jennies, scoring four goals and dishing out an assist. She scored two goals in each game, including the game-winner in a 2-1 victory over No. 24 Central Oklahoma.
Hamilton College senior forward Aidan Wood (Ipswich, Mass.) was the NCAA Division III Men’s Player of the Week after scoring four goals and handing out two assists for 10 points, including the game-tying goal in a 1-1 draw with No. 1-ranked Tufts. Brianna Williams (Scarsdale, N.Y.), a junior goalkeeper from Arcadia University, made 20 saves en route to a pair of shutouts last week, including a 0-0 draw with top-ranked Messiah.
Bucks County Community College sophomore forward Salvatore Ficarotta (Yardley, Pa.) registered 12 points last week, scoring five goals and dishing out two assists, including having a hand in all four goals of a 4-1 win over Brookdale. Holmes Community College freshman forward Cariel Ellis (Madison, Miss.) scored 10 goals over three games last week and had multiple goals in every game.
Each Tuesday 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.