KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Nov. 8, 2022) – United Soccer Coaches announced its College Player of the Week awards on Wednesday afternoon, with five student-athletes representing NCAA Division I, II, III.
NCAA Division I Men: No nominations received
NCAA Division I Women: Heather Hinz (South Carolina University)
NCAA Division II Men: Kelvin Mulinya (Maryville University)
NCAA Division II Women: Lexi Gentry (Maryville University)
NCAA Division III Men: Cole Cristian (Messiah University)
NCAA Division III Women: Emma Sweitzer (Misericordia University)
Junior College Men: No nominations received
Junior College Women: No nominations received
Heather Hinz led her team to an SEC conference championship. In the three-post season matches, Hinz had 10 saves and two shutouts. In the semifinals game against Georgia, she saved two penalty kicks in the overtime shootout. The senior goalkeeper made five saves, including an impressive double save from point blank, to lead South Carolina to a 1-0 shutout over No. 3 Alabama in the SEC Tournament championship game.
Kelvin Mulinya, a senior from Nairobi, Kenya, recorded four crucial points for the week. Mulinya scored two goals in the GLV Semifinal game. The senior midfielder scored the third and fourth goals in the GLVC Semifinal game versus Illinois Springfield.
Lexi Gentry, a senior from San Diego, Calif., tallied two goals for a four-point week. Gentry scored the game-tying goal in the upset win over 17th-ranked McKendree to advance to the GLVC Championship game. She scored the game-winning goal in the GLVC Championship game to win Maryville’s first-ever GLVC title.
Cole Cristian, a senior midfielder, finished the week with six points. Cristian scored three goals over two games in the conference tournament. The senior added a goal in a 6-1 semifinal win over York. Cristian scored the first two goals of the conference title match in the first five minutes of the game. The Falcons went on to beat Widener 5-0.
Emma Sweitzer finished the week with four goals and three assists. She scored one goal and added two assists in a 7-0 win over DeSales in the semifinal. Sweitzer then scored three goals and added an assist in a 5-2 win over Stevens in the title match to give the Cougers their eighth-conference title.
