INDIANAPOLIS – Half of the playoff field is locked in and ready to go as Great Midwest Athletic Conference Women’s Soccer Players of the Week awards continued on Tuesday morning.
Nationally ranked Findlay, No. 23 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, was the first team to realize its playoff destiny. The Oilers haven’t conceded much of anything on defense and figure to move up again currently on a nine-game win streak.
Also moving forward with momentum is Cedarville as the Yellow Jackets have snowballed a five-game win streak together. Preseason favorite Walsh has also clinched and Ohio Dominican has also secured a Great Midwest Championship seed.
The first four quarterfinal games of the conference tournament bracket will be held on campus sites (higher seed) before the final four battle it out in Dayton, Ohio, at Chaminade-Julienne High School.
The first NCAA Midwest Region rankings for women’s soccer will be released on Wednesday, Oct. 30.
Offensive Player of the Week
Jayla Campbell
Findlay
Midfield
Freshman
Chilicothe, OH (Unioto HS)
Could the Oilers have their second straight conference freshman of the year recipient? After Olivia Frank captured those honors in 2018, Campbell is waging a campaign for the same hardware after picking up her second offensively weekly league honor.
The Oilers have scored 31 goals and given up just 3 – a formula for remarkable success for head coach Jimmy Walker and his program.
Findlay just finds a way to get it done – five of the team’s games have been decided by one goal – and Campbell contributed to the most recent wins vs. Lake Erie and Ursuline.
Campbell delivered the game winner vs. the Storm in the 58th minute as the Oilers held a 16-4 edge in the shot department. Findlay scored once in each half to secure its 10th win of the fall.
Against Ursuline, the Oilers cracked a scoreless match in the 61st minute. Campbell followed with her second goal of the week for insurance purposes as UF finished off the 2-0 victory.
Campbell now has 6 goals and 3 assists on the season for a total of 15 points, ranking second on the team.
Defensive Player of the Week
Bex Velloney
Cedarville
Defense
Senior
Chesapeake, VA (Greenbrier Christian Academy)
Three of the four decisions for Cedarville in non-conference action against tough competitions resulted in overtime outcomes.
Those results have prepared the Yellow Jackets for the rigors of the league schedule and now pose a considerable threat for a deep playoff run.
Cedarville has won five straight dating back to Oct. 17, its most recent body of work wrapping up wins against Malone and Walsh, both probable playoff programs.
Velloney, an all-conference performer and academic all-district team selection, was instrumental in the defense locking down some high-powered offensive scorers, notably Danielle Lung and Olivia Peters.
For extra measure, Velloney converted a PK for a goal against Malone.