News

POTW: Regional Honors Matchweek Eight

Published Jul 3, 2025

Katie Gernsbacher
Forward, Austin Rise FC
Post-Collegiate
1 win | 80 min | 3 goals

Katie Gernsbacher scored all three of Austin Rise FC’s goals in its 3-2 win over FC Dallas in Week Eight to close out the regular season. In the first game of the season, Austin earned a 1-0 win and the next seven games FC Dallas went on to score 30 goals while averaging 4.28 goals a game.

Gernbacher opened the scoring in the 18’ before Dallas equalized to level the score 1-1 at half. The Rise veteran gave Austin the lead again in the 61’ and tallied the hattrick in the 74’. Gernbacher's three goals were the most Dallas allowed all season.

Hadley Johnson
Goalkeeper, St. Croix Legacy
Junior, Pomona-Pitzer
180 min | 2 cleansheets | 13 saves

Hadley Johnson earned St. Croix’s first two shutouts of the season resulted in two wins in three days to close conference play. Johnson played full regulation for both matches and recorded 13 saves in the wins.

The Stillwater, Minn. native will start her senior season at Pomona-Pitzer this Fall. In her three seasons with the Sagehens, Johnson earned three wins while only allowing three goals in eight games played and recorded a 0.750 SV%.

Naomi Nnewihe
Forward, SJEB FC

Incoming freshman, Brown University
75 min | 3 goals | 1 assist

Naomi Nnewihe has put up several POTW-worthy performances this season and finally secures the honor after tallying three goals and one assist in SJEB FC’s final game of regular season. Nnewihe’s performance made her the leading scorer for both SJEB FC and the Colonial Division.

Nnewihe will start her collegiate career this Fall at Brown University. In her high school career, she scored 32 goals as a senior to college 86 totals in her four years. Nnewihe was named CAL Player of the Year and Atlantic Press Player of the Year.

Remi Cherkas

Defender, SJEB FC

Sophomore, University of Rochester

2 wins | 1 goal | 1 assist

Remi Cherkas led SJEB FC to a division title clinch and ended the regular season with two big wins that showcased a solid defensive front. Cherkas’ backline only allowed a single goal while she was on the field. Additionally, Cherkas also contributed offensively and recorded a goal and assist on the week.

In the 2024 collegiate season, Cherkas started in 16 of 18 games played for the University of Rochester as a freshman while recording nearly 1400 minutes. Cherkas contributions helped Rochester to nine shutouts on the season and allow just 0.856 goals/game.

No Nominations Submitted for Defensive POTW

Alivia Stott
Forward, 865 Alliance
Sophomore, Tennessee
70 min | 3 goals | 1 assist

Alivia Stott helped 865 Alliance close out its regular season and retain its unbeaten record by contributing to four of seven goals scored in the win. Stott opened the scoring in the 3’ then collected an assist and brace in the second half while recording 70 minutes of action.

In her freshman season for the Volunteers in 2024, Stott started three of seven games played and recorded 188 minutes. The Knoxville native made two shots on goal in her debut against Lipscomb on Aug. 25.

Mia Minestrella
Forward, Beach Futbol Club

Junior, Duke University
2 wins | 5 goals | 3 assists

Mia Minestrella propelled Beach Futbol Club to a big win and a hard fought draw against the No. 6 team in the West Region. The Duke junior contributed to eight of the ten goals Beach scored in both games. Minestrella finished the regular season as Beach’s leading scorer.

In Friday’s matchup at No. 6 San Diego Dons, Minestrella opened the scoring in the 34’ then assisted on Beach’s second goal in the 42’ to double its lead at half. Two days later in its second match of the week, Minestrella tallied four goals and two assists to contribute to six goals in the 7-0 win.

Minestrella recorded 12 goals in Duke’s 2024 season as a sophomore and tallied seven assists over 22 games played. Minestrella helped the Blue Devils to a NCAA Women’s College Cup berth and ACC Regular Season Title.

Riley Brown
Defender, Royals AZ

Senior, University of Oklahoma
90 min | 1 win | 1 shutout

Royals AZ has been no stranger to big wins against big opponents this season and who it faced in Week Eight was no different. Riley Brown led the defensive front that lifted the Royals past the No. 9 team in the West Region in a 6-1 win to close its regular season.

The Royals gave up an early goal in the opening minutes to Desert Dreams F.C., which would be its only goal of the contest. Brown played the full 90 minutes and kept the Dreams, who averaged 3.6 goals/game, scoreless for the remaining 81 minutes of the match. The defensive front provided the Royals offensive opportunity that produced six goals - the most goals the Dreams gave up all season.

Brown will begin her senior season this Fall as an Oklahoma Sooner after transferring from the University of Washington where she started 19 of 45 games played and recorded a goal and four assists.