South Dakota Sweeps #SummitWSOC Weekly Awards

9/29/2014 12:00:00 AM

ELMHURST, Ill. – South Dakota's Corey Strang and Lauren Bennett were named The Summit League's Women's Soccer Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for their performances Sept. 22-28.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Corey Strang, South Dakota
So. // F // Temecula, Calif.
Strang earns her first career Offensive Player of the Week award after netting the game-winner in a 1-0 shutout at Drake. The sophomore forward took a pass from teammate Elena Tsakakis and beat the goalie in a 1-on-1 situation in the 20^th minute for the eventual game-winner. The goal was Strang's third on the year while the Coyotes improved to 7-4 in non-league play, its best since joining The Summit League in 2011.

Also nominated: Chelsi Rohloff, Omaha.

Previous honorees: Aug. 25 – Lizzie Lukas, NDSU/Rebecca Sparkman, USD; Sept. 2 – Lauren Miller, NDSU; Sept. 8 – Krissy Kirkhoff, IUPUI/Shelby Raper, SDSU; Sept. 15 – Krissy Kirkhoff, IUPUI; Sept. 22 – Tori Minnich, IUPUI.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Lauren Bennett, South Dakota
Sr. // D // Walton, Ky.
Bennett collects her first career Defensive Player of the Week award after helping South Dakota earn a 1-0 shutout win at Drake. The senior defender played the entire match and led the USD backline that limited Drake to just two shots on goal in the victory. The Coyotes, now 7-4 on the year, are off to their best start since joining the league in 2011.

Also nominated: Ava Doetsch, Omaha.

Previous honorees: Aug. 25 – Victoria Kappel, WIU; Sept. 2 – Sierra Bonham, NDSU; Sept. 8 – Kaily Cox, ORU; Sept. 15 – Mackenzie Bothner, DU; Sept. 22 – Cassidy Rey, DU.

ABOUT THE SUMMIT LEAGUE
In its fourth decade of Division I athletics, The Summit League offers 19 championship sports and has a combined enrollment of over 120,000 at nine institutions, including four located in top 60 U.S. metro populations and two land-grant universities. Member institutions include: Denver (University of Denver), Fort Wayne (Indiana University-Purdue University-Fort Wayne), IUPUI (Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis), North Dakota State University, Omaha (University of Nebraska Omaha), Oral Roberts University, the University of South Dakota, South Dakota State University and Western Illinois University. Previously known as the Mid-Continent Conference, The Summit League rebranded in 2007 and has since produced eight NCAA Champions along with over 65 All-Americans, 60 Academic All-America selections and numerous former student-athletes competing at the highest professional level. For more information about the league and to "See The Summit", visit www.thesummitleague.org, follow on Twitter @thesummitleague, download The Summit League's Front Row app, and watch the weekly "Inside The Summit League" show at www.thesummitleague.org/itsl.

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