By Dylan Vazzano, Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Following a perfect weekend on the pitch for the Tennessee Tech soccer team, junior Karigan Owens was recognized as the adidas® Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week, receiving the honor Tuesday afternoon.
The La Grange, Ky. native came up huge in Tech's 3-0 win over Mercer Sunday afternoon, playing a pivotal role in all three of TTU's scores as the 5-foot-9 junior tallied a goal and two assists en route to a four-point showing.
"We want to thank the conference for selecting Karigan of Offensive Player of the Week, I know she is honored and the team is excited for her and this accomplishment," head coach Steve Springthorpe said on his club's first weekly honor of the season. "As a coaching staff we are happy that she put together a great weekend for us, and as a whole we are looking forward to the upcoming weekend and our matchup with Louisiana Tech."
Owens helped set the tone early in Sunday's affair with the Bears, smacking a 7th minute corner into the box that eventually bounded off the try of senior Abi Gearing and into the back of the net that gave Owens the assist on the play. The set-piece score was one of three generated by the Golden Eagles, all off of Owens' corners.
In the 41st minute, she took matters into her own feet with a rocket that soared through the pipes on a corner attempt for her first goal of the season. In the 68th minute, Owens started another Tech goal with a corner that was ultimately buried by sophomore Mayra Tarraga Manzanal for the final Golden Eagle score of the match.
In Friday's 1-0 win over Wright State, Owens took three shots, all of which were on-goal. Overall, she took five shots in the two weekend tilts, all of which were on-goal.
Off to its best start since 2004 with a 3-1 record, TTU will host Louisiana Tech Sunday at 1 p.m. CT from Tech Soccer Field.
Offensive
Karigan Owens, D/F, 5-9, Jr., La Grange, Ky. - Tennessee Tech
Owens had a hand in all three goals scored in the 3-0 win over Mercer last week. She assisted on a pair and scored one. She took five shots over two matches last weekend, all of which were on goal.
Others Nominated: Gina Fabbro, Austin Peay Belicia Mendiola, Belmont; Erin Torrence, Eastern Kentucky; Nicola Dominikovich, Jacksonville State; Ashley Ritchie, Morehead State; Aaron Lankster, Murray State; Natasha Minor, Southeast Missouri; Peyton Roehnelt, SIUE
Defensive
Jasmin Hilliard, D, 5-6, Fr., Medina, Ohio - Southeast Missouri
Hilliard played all 190 minutes on defense last week and helped the Redhawks earn back-to-back shutouts. She was one of two assists on Maggie Pike's game-winning goal in the fourth minute versus Milwaukee.
Others Nominated: Sarah Bossung, Belmont; Danelle Lindo, Jacksonville State; Kelsey Pruett, SIUE
Goalkeeper
Anna Hall, GK, 5-9, Jr., Ross, Ohio - Eastern Kentucky
Hall recorded a pair of shutouts last week. She earned her first clean sheet versus Northern Kentucky on Thursday, making five saves. She held VMI scoreless on Saturday, making three saves.
Others Nominated: Caroline Robinson, Jacksonville State; Alex Steigerwald, Murray State; Kindra Lierz, Southeast Missouri; Kari Naerdemann, Tennessee Tech
Photo by Jim Dillon
