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FERGUS, HEVEY NAMED CENTRAL REGION PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

 

 

DEFENSIVE POTW

Maddox Fergus, GK, Sunflower State FC 1 cleansheet, 5 saves, Top 10 opponent

 

Maddox Fergus, GK, helped Sunflower State FC open its 2025 campaign with a 2-0 win over the Central's preseason No. 9 KC Courage. The sophomore from Johnson County Community College earned a clean sheet with five saves against a strong Courage side that averaged 2.4 goals/game last season. Fergus also helped her side with offensive build ups while keeping the Courage out of the net. Fergus earned Junior College Division II All-American honors in 2024.

 

 

 

OFFENSIVE POTW

Zoe Hevey, F, Bavarian United SC 1 goal, 1 assist, 1 gamewinner

 

 

Zoe Hevey, F, scored the game winner in the Bavarian United SC's opening match in stoppage time against Chicago House AC - the Bavarian's first game back in the WPSL. Bavarian went down 1-0 at half to the home side before leveling the score in the 51'. Minutes later, with an assist to Josie Langhan in the 53', Hevey helped pull Bavarian ahead. With the final whistle nearing, and Chicago leveling the score once again, the result looked to be heading towards a draw. In stoppage time, Hevey capitalized on a through ball, beat the defender to the inside, and set the ball to the bottom right corner to give Bavarian a 3-2 win. Hevey is a junior at Loyola University Chicago.

 

 

TWO COLUMBUS EAGLES EARN POTW HONORS AFTER DOWNING NO.2 TEAM IN WPSL

 

 

DEFENSIVE POTW

Nora Roush, D, Columbus Eagles FC

90 min, 8 won duels, No. 2 National Opp

 

 

Nora Roush, D, was instrumental in Columbus Eagles FC's season opener against the preseason No. 2 team in WPSL's national power rankings. The junior from Ohio University led an Eagles defense that held an FC Dayton side that average three goals per game last season. Roush is credited with winning eight duels in the 4-1 upset victory and kept Dayton scoreless until the 56' min. The defender played the full 90 minutes of the game.

 

 

 

OFFENSIVE POTW

Nikki Cox, MF, Columbus Eagles FC

80 min, 3 goals, No. 2 National Opp

 

 

Nikki Cox, MF, led the Eagles to a commanding lead against a top-ranked FC Dayton side after recording a brace in less the five minutes to put Columbus up 2-0. In the second half, when Dayton looked to come a live with a goal itself, Cox secured her hat trick a minute later to keep the two-goal lead. The midfielder is credited with a relentless determination in front of goal that changed the face of the game. Cox played collegiately at Bowling Green University from 2018-2021. Last season, Cox led the Great River Division with 10 goals and earned Player of the Week honors in matchweek one.

 

 

MCBRIDE, JOHNSON PICK UP PLAYER OF THE WEEK RECOGNITION DURING MATCHWEEK TWO

 

 

DEFENSIVE POTW

Emily McBride, GK, Arlington Soccer Red

90 min, 6 saves, 1 win

 

 

Emily McBride, GK, recorded six saves in Arlington Soccer Red's 2-1 season opener win. McBride appeared in two games for Connecticut College in 2024 as a freshman.

 

 

 

OFFENSIVE POTW

Isabella Johnson, F, Arlington Soccer Blue

2 games, 2 goals, 144 min

 

 

Isabella Johnson, F, scored two goals in consecutive matches in matchweek two. In the season opener, Johnson leveled the score 1-1 with a 55' goal early in the second half. The next day, the forward got on the scoresheet in the opening minutes with a goal in the 11'. Johnson is a 2009 academy player.

 

 

 

EMPERADOR, CARDENAS CLAIM FIRST PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS FOR THE WEST REGION

 

 

DEFENSIVE POTW

Anna Emperador, D, California Storm

90 min, 1 goal

 

 

Anna Emperador played the full 90 minutes of the California Storm's opening match against Iron Rose FC in Roseville, CA. The defender kept the home side scoreless before adding on a long-range goal herself in the 62' to give the reigning WPSL Champions the 4-0 win.

 

 

 

OFFENSIVE POTW

Kiera Cardenas, F, San Diego Strikers

1 game, 80 min, 4 goals

 

 

Kiera Cardenas, F, opened the scoring in the first five minutes of the San Diego Strikers' home opener. Cardenas tacked on two more before the first half to complete her hattrick with goals in the 21' and 41' to give the Strikers a 3-0 advantage. The forward kept her momentum in the 51' to score her fourth and final goal of the Strikers 5-2 win. Cardenas played collegiately at the University of California San Diego from 2013-2016, tallying 20 goals over her collegiate career.