KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Oct. 1, 2019) – Eight student-athletes representing all three NCAA divisions, as well as two representatives from the junior college ranks, have received Player of the Week honors from United Soccer Coaches, the association announced on Tuesday.
NCAA Division I Men: Josh Luchini (Lehigh)
NCAA Division I Women: Melissa Kössler (UMass)
NCAA Division II Men: Justin Faas (Southern Indiana)
NCAA Division II Women: Katie Taylor (Mississippi College)
NCAA Division III Men: Johnny Rakhmonberdiev (Maryville College)
NCAA Division III Women: Christina Gagliardi (St. Joseph’s College-Long Island)
Junior College Men: Larry Lopez (El Camino College)
Junior College Women: Cariel Ellis (Holmes CC)
Lehigh sophomore forward Josh Luchini (Wexford, Pa.) scored four of the six goals for Lehigh last week, including his first career hat trick against Boston University and both game-winners.UMass freshman forward Melissa Kössler (Potsdam, Germany) scored four goals and dished out three assists for 11 points in a pair of road wins. She scored both game-winning goals.
In NCAA Division II, Southern Indiana junior goalkeeper Justin Faas (Carmel, Ind.) recorded a pair of shutout wins over conference opponents, stopping nine shots over 180 minutes of action. On the women’s side, Mississippi College senior midfielder Katie Taylor (Tupelo, Miss.) scored five goals and dished out two assists for 12 points in 114 minutes of play over two games. She scored the game-winner in both games during the week.
Maryville College junior midfielder Johnny Rakhmonberdiev (Sevierville, Tenn.) scored three goals and dished out four assists for 10 points in two wins last week. He scored a hat trick in one game and tied a school record with three assists in the next. St. Joseph’s College-Long Island senior forward Christina Gagliardi (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) had a hand in 11 of 12 goals scored last week, scoring nine times and dishing out a pair of assists for 20 points.
El Camino College freshman forward Larry Lopez (Los Angeles, Calif.) scored the only goal in a key 1-0 road win over Citrus College. Holmes Community College freshman forward Cariel Ellis (Madison, Miss.) captured her second straight Player of the Week honor after scoring three goals and dishing out two assists in one game last week. It was her fourth straight hat trick.
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.