NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Massachusetts freshman Melissa Kössler has been named the Atlantic 10 Conference Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week, the league announced Monday. Davidson's Mary Grace Bunch earned Defensive Player of the Week honors, while her Wildcats teammate Hailey Braemer and La Salle's Leah Giles shared Rookie of the Week accolades. The awards are for games played Sept. 23-29.
Kössler, a Potsdam, Germany, native, led two come-from-behind Atlantic 10 road victories for the Minutewomen last week, putting up 11 points (four goals, three assists). The forward scored twice in a five-minute span to put UM ahead and added an assist in a 4-2 victory at George Mason. Kössler then logged a season-best six points at Saint Joseph’s, factoring in all four goals (two goals, two assists) as UMass came back from down 3-1 with less than 20 minutes remaining in regulation to win, 4-3. The freshman assisted on Fatou Barry's goal in the 80th minute, before adding the game-winner less than a minute later. This is the third A-10 weekly award for Kössler, who leads the league in goals (9) and points (23).
Reigning A-10 Defender of the Week Bunch picked up a pair of shutouts between the pipes in games against Duquesne and St. Bonaventure, helping the 'Cats keep their unbeaten streak alive at seven games. The sophomore from Raleigh, N.C., earned her second win in a 2-0 triumph against the Dukes Thursday, coming up with a season-best five saves. She added one more save in a scoreless double-overtime draw against the Bonnies, her fourth shutout in a row.
Giles, a Deptford, N.J., product assisted on the game-winning goal in double overtime against Duquesne on Sunday. The rookie was also part of the defense that allowed just one goal to Richmond, another overtime victory for La Salle. Giles now leads the team with four assists, and is ranked third in the A-10.
Reigning A-10 Freshman of the Week, Braemer assisted on the game-winner in a 2-0 win against the Dukes at home. The Nashville, Tenn., native sent a perfect ball into the middle of the box, finding Cameron France for her second assist on the season. Braemer took five shots on the week, with three of them going on goal as Davidson is riding a season-best 7-game unbeaten streak (5-0-2).