KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association has announced its women's soccer weekly awards for the third week of contests in the 2023 season.
 
MIAA Defender of the Week – Lauren Nylund, Missouri Western       
Lauren Nylund played all 180 minutes this weekend in Missouri Western's 1-0-1 weekend at Northwest Missouri and Missouri Southern. The junior defender slung an assist in a 1-1 draw with Northwest, then followed that up with 90 more minutes against Southern to help the Griffons keep a clean sheet for 64 minutes, only allowing two shots with one on goal. She has five full games under her belt this season.

MIAA Offensive Athlete of the Week – Mikayla Ernst, Central Missouri       
Mikayla Ernst helped No. 16-ranked Central Missouri to a 2-0 week with a pair of 2-0, shutout wins over Missouri Southern and Northwest Missouri. She was responsible for both game-winning goals in both matches for the Jennies. In the 2-0 shutout of Missouri Southern, she netted the game-winner in the 23rd-minute before scoring the game-winner in the 57th-minute against the Bearcats. Ernst currently leads the Jennies and is tied for the MIAA lead with five goals so far this season.
 
MIAA Goalkeeper of the Week – Kristen Wright, Central Missouri
Kristen Wright recorded a pair of shutouts in goal, helping the No. 16-ranked Jennies to two, 2-0 wins over Missouri Southern and Northwest Missouri. At Missouri Southern, Wright went the full 90 between the posts, making one save and allowing zero goals before stopping four shots and not allowing a goal in 90 minutes against the Bearcats.
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Offensive
Kendall Kinsley – Missouri Western
Currently leading her team in scoring with seven points, Kendall Knisley fronted Missouri Western's 1-1 draw at Northwest Missouri State and its 3-1 win at Missouri Southern. Knisley scored the first goal of the game against the Bearcats, scoring in the 39th minute. The freshman then scored a point for a fourth consecutive match when she netted a goal in the 11th minute, which eventually became the game-winning score after Southern sank a goal later on in the bout.
 
Defenders
Reilly Madden – Fort Hays State
Reilly Madden helped the Tigers pick up their fourth shutout of the season against Nebraska-Kearney. She helped the Tiger defense limit the Lopers to just two shots in the match. She then played nearly the entire match against Emporia State, despite dealing with an injury briefly, helping the Tigers to a 1-1 tie.
 
Courtney Castleberry – Rogers State
Courtney Castleberry led the Hillcats to a 1-0-1 record with a non-conference win on the road at Northeastern State and a draw at Newman. In the 3-0 win over the RiverHawks, Castleberry anchored the RSU defense as they earned their third shutout of the season forcing NSU into 19 shots with only six on goal. Against the Jets, she helmed a defense that only allowed nine shots with four goal and gave up on goal.
 
Goalkeepers
Tiffany Brittan – Rogers State   
Tiffany Brittan led the Hillcats to a 1-0-1 record on the road in non-conference action with a win against Northeastern State and a draw at Newman. In the 3-0 win against the RiverHawks, Brittan earned her third shutout of the season making six saves on 19 shots faced. Against Newman, she made three saves on nine shots face and allowed one goal.
 
Isabel Robben – Fort Hays State
Isabel Robben picked up her fourth shutout of the season in a 1-0 shutout of Nebraska Kearney. The senior had two saves on the only two shots allowed by FHSU in the match. She then had a big individual effort against Emporia State to help the Tigers get a tie, saving five of six shots on target. Robben had three one-on-one situations against two-time All-American Mackenzie Dimarco and won two, denying her on a breakaway opportunity in the 54th minute and denying her once more in the 77th minute from about 15 yards out inside the box after she broke free of the Tiger defense to preserve a 1-1 tie. Dimarco's breakaway one-on-one opportunity in the 66th minute was ESU's lone goal of the match.