TicketsCINCINNATI - The American Athletic Conference has announced its weekly awards with the University of Cincinnati women's soccer team collecting two more accolades this week as Kiki Lowell has been named the Defensive Player of the Week for the second week in a row and Jill Vetere was named to the Honor Roll. Both Bearcats scored game-winning goals last week with Vetere notching the winner in a 1-0 victory at UConn before Lowell's redirect jump started UC to a 3-0 a win at Temple Sunday.
The Bearcats, who swept a pair of road matches in conference play for the first time since the 2002 season, stand 9-1-2 on the year with a 3-0-1 record in the American. UC has not conceded a goal to a conference foe this year, posting four shutouts in a row to open the league slate while allowing just five total goals through the first 12 matches of 2017.
// STRONG BACKING
For the second week in a row, Lowell earned the top defensive honor from the league as she anchored the back line to two more shutouts, including a 1-0 win at UConn before scoring the game-winner in a 3-0 win at Temple. Lowell, who started both matches and played all 180 minutes available, was a presence in the back as she continually disrupted the opponents' attacks and was able to clear the ball from danger on several occasions. In the match at Temple, she tallied her first career goal as Taylor Pavlika played the ball into the box on a corner kick and Cassie Wheldon fired a shot on goal that Lowell redirected past the keeper for a 1-0 lead.
// ACCOUNT OPENED
Vetere also opened her scoring account with the Bearcats last week as she scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win at UConn that helped UC defeat the Huskies on their home turf for the first time in program history (1-3-1) and hand UConn just their second loss in AAC home action since the league began. Vetere had several shots on the night and continued to use her speed to create chances throughout. In the 66', Vetere got the Bearcats on the board as Katy Couperus fired a shot from distance that hit the crossbar and shot down toward Vetere who calmly volleyed the ball out of the air and into the net for the 1-0 lead and eventually game-winning score.
// HONORS IN 2017
Through seven weeks, the awards have piled up for the Bearcats as they have collected seven athlete of the week accolades to accompany six more Honor Roll selections. Lowell's defensive honor is the fifth of the year after Vanessa Gilles earned the honor three times earlier this year and Lowell took home the accolade for the second week in a row. It is also the seventh overall player of the week honor after both Julie Gavorski and Jaycie Brown were named to the offensive accolade in weeks three and four, respectively. Vetere now joins Madison Less (two), Gavorski (one), Sophie Gorman (one) and Karli Royer (one) as Honor Roll selections in 2017.
Offensive Player of the Week
• Jaycie Brown (9/11)
• Julie Gavorski (9/4)
Defensive Player of the Week
• Vanessa Gilles (8/21, 8/28, 9/11)
• Kiki Lowell (9/25, 10/2)
Honor Roll
• Julie Gavorski (8/28)
• Sophie Gorman (9/11)
• Madison Less (9/11, 9/25)
• Karli Royer (9/25)
• Jill Vetere (10/2)
// UPCOMING ACTION
The Bearcats return home this week as they will play the first of three-consecutive matches at Gettler Stadium when Morehead State comes to town Friday for a 7 p.m. contest. The match will also be Senior Night for seven seniors as the group of Brown, Katy Couperus, Lizzie Ehrnfelt, Gavorski, Gilles and Pavlika, along with team manager Alex Keller, will be recognized before the start of the match in a 6:30 p.m. ceremony on the field.
// FOLLOWING THE BEARCATS
GoBearcats.com is your one-stop destination for all things UC Athletics. Socially, the team can also be followed on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with all using the handle GoBearcatsWSOC. Head Coach Neil Stafford (@UCGaffer) also can be followed on Twitter.
The Bearcats, who swept a pair of road matches in conference play for the first time since the 2002 season, stand 9-1-2 on the year with a 3-0-1 record in the American. UC has not conceded a goal to a conference foe this year, posting four shutouts in a row to open the league slate while allowing just five total goals through the first 12 matches of 2017.
// STRONG BACKING
For the second week in a row, Lowell earned the top defensive honor from the league as she anchored the back line to two more shutouts, including a 1-0 win at UConn before scoring the game-winner in a 3-0 win at Temple. Lowell, who started both matches and played all 180 minutes available, was a presence in the back as she continually disrupted the opponents' attacks and was able to clear the ball from danger on several occasions. In the match at Temple, she tallied her first career goal as Taylor Pavlika played the ball into the box on a corner kick and Cassie Wheldon fired a shot on goal that Lowell redirected past the keeper for a 1-0 lead.
// ACCOUNT OPENED
Vetere also opened her scoring account with the Bearcats last week as she scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win at UConn that helped UC defeat the Huskies on their home turf for the first time in program history (1-3-1) and hand UConn just their second loss in AAC home action since the league began. Vetere had several shots on the night and continued to use her speed to create chances throughout. In the 66', Vetere got the Bearcats on the board as Katy Couperus fired a shot from distance that hit the crossbar and shot down toward Vetere who calmly volleyed the ball out of the air and into the net for the 1-0 lead and eventually game-winning score.
// HONORS IN 2017
Through seven weeks, the awards have piled up for the Bearcats as they have collected seven athlete of the week accolades to accompany six more Honor Roll selections. Lowell's defensive honor is the fifth of the year after Vanessa Gilles earned the honor three times earlier this year and Lowell took home the accolade for the second week in a row. It is also the seventh overall player of the week honor after both Julie Gavorski and Jaycie Brown were named to the offensive accolade in weeks three and four, respectively. Vetere now joins Madison Less (two), Gavorski (one), Sophie Gorman (one) and Karli Royer (one) as Honor Roll selections in 2017.
Offensive Player of the Week
• Jaycie Brown (9/11)
• Julie Gavorski (9/4)
Defensive Player of the Week
• Vanessa Gilles (8/21, 8/28, 9/11)
• Kiki Lowell (9/25, 10/2)
Honor Roll
• Julie Gavorski (8/28)
• Sophie Gorman (9/11)
• Madison Less (9/11, 9/25)
• Karli Royer (9/25)
• Jill Vetere (10/2)
// UPCOMING ACTION
The Bearcats return home this week as they will play the first of three-consecutive matches at Gettler Stadium when Morehead State comes to town Friday for a 7 p.m. contest. The match will also be Senior Night for seven seniors as the group of Brown, Katy Couperus, Lizzie Ehrnfelt, Gavorski, Gilles and Pavlika, along with team manager Alex Keller, will be recognized before the start of the match in a 6:30 p.m. ceremony on the field.
// FOLLOWING THE BEARCATS
GoBearcats.com is your one-stop destination for all things UC Athletics. Socially, the team can also be followed on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with all using the handle GoBearcatsWSOC. Head Coach Neil Stafford (@UCGaffer) also can be followed on Twitter.