GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced its weekly awards following Week 3 of the 2025 women's soccer season. Ferris State junior forward Katherine Welch was named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week while Grand Valley State redshirt junior defender Acadia Murphy received GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Katherine Welch, Ferris State
Ferris State University standout Katherine Welch helped lead the Bulldogs to back-to-back wins to start conference play, finishing the weekend by playing a part in both FSU goals in a pair of 1-0 victories. Welch scored the eventual game-winner only 12 minutes into the contest on Sunday as the Bulldogs beat previously unbeaten Purdue Northwest 1-0 in Big Rapids. She also had the assist on the only goal in FSU’s 1-0 league-opening triumph over Davenport on Friday. For the weekend, she also paced Ferris State with four total shots and played nearly the entire 180 minutes of action as the Bulldogs started conference play with a 2-0 mark.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Acadia Murphy, Grand Valley State
Grand Valley State redshirt junior Acadia Murphy has been named the GLIAC defensive player of the week for the first time this season. Murphy played in all 90 minutes in the 2-0 shutout win at Saginaw Valley State to open up GLIAC play. She was a key piece in the Laker defense that did not allow a shot on goal against the Cardinals. Murphy has appeared in all 90 minutes in four of the first five games this season and ranks second on the team with 434 minutes logged.
HONORABLE MENTION
Offense: Addison Frantti (Northern Michigan), Sonya Mehta (Grand Valley State), Emily Mikkelson (Parkside), Madelyn Schamanek (Davenport), Peyton Wetzel (Michigan Tech), Sophia Zalucki (Saginaw Valley State)
Defense: Kenna Alexander (Northern Michigan), Bri Barrows (Michigan Tech), Tristen Cross (Parkside), Lainey Garbarz (Saginaw Valley State), Bailey Gauthier (Davenport), Korinne Ihrke (Ferris State)
