INDIANAPOLIS – Cedarville and Findlay both secured six points in the league standings from a pair of victories on their way to receive Great Midwest Athletic Conference Women’s Soccer Players of the Week awards on Tuesday.
 
It was a wild week in the standings as league-leading Walsh actually lost twice, the first vs. Tiffin and the second at Findlay. With the Oilers and Cavaliers serving as co-preseason favorites this spring, the 1-0 final was as expected, a close finish that could be a championship final rematch down the line.
 
At 10 points each, there is a four-way tie in the middle of the standings that includes Cedarville, now winners of three straight. Malone is also in that grouping with Ohio Valley and Findlay. Ohio Dominican is in sole possession of second place and the Panthers, including a pair of scoreless draws, have yet to concede a goal in five games this year.
 
Offensive Player of the Week
Taylor Noll
Cedarville
Forward
Senior
Lancaster, PA (Manheim Central HS)
 
After starting the spring with a tough road swing, the Yellow Jackets are rounding into form and emerging as viable contenders for a conference championship with three straight victories.
 
The latest body of work for Cedarville was road wins against Trevecca Nazarene and Kentucky Wesleyan as the offense generated three goals in each contest.
 
Noll scored one goal in each game to contribute to the cause and now leads her team with 7 points on the spring (3 G, 1 A).
 
On April Fools Day, Noll scored the first goal of regulation in the 11th minute as teamwork from Mackenzie Northcutt and Rachel Wiggins resulted in the somewhat uncommon double assist. It was the only shot she would take as the Yellow Jackets outshot the Trojans, 13-8.
 
In Owensboro vs. KWC, it was Noll again striking early, this time in the eighth minute. The Yellow Jackets fired off 25 shots and Noll had four of those, including three on target.
 
Defensive Player of the Week
Alyssa Stark
Findlay
Midfield
Freshman
Toledo, OH (Notre Dame Academy)
 
The Oilers didn’t give up a goal in a pair of home wins against Lake Erie and Walsh as Stark played a starring role in limiting opportunities by the opponents.
 
Findlay scored three times in the second half to provide plenty of firepower against the Storm as Stark helped the defense allow just two shots taken against them.
 
The Oilers held Walsh to just two shots as well in the later game of the week, an offense that was accustomed to getting shots at will with 93 prior to facing Findlay. It was a 1-0 final as Olivia Frank delivered the game winner in the 47th minute.
 
Stark has logged a team-high 452 minutes on the pitch this spring while starting all five games as a freshman.