SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Denver senior forward Natalie Beckman and North Dakota State senior goalkeeper Aly Cole were named the season’s final TicketSmarter Summit League Women’s Soccer Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, league officials announced on Monday.
 
Beckman and the Pioneers opened the weekend with a 1-1 draw against South Dakota, clinching at least a share of the league title. In the match, the Denver, Colo., native scored the equalizer in 32^nd-minute of play. Against South Dakota State, Beckman scored DU’s second goal in a 2-0 victory and helped the Pioneers earn its fourth-straight regular season League title. She became the 15^th player in Denver’s Division I history to score at least 20 goals.
 
Cole had a career game in her final appearance for NDSU. The Andover, Minn., native finished with a career-high 15 saves and recorded the first clean sheet for the Bison this season in a 1-0 double-overtime victory over St. Thomas. Cole tied for the third most saves in a game in Bison history.
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Natalie Beckman, Denver
Sr. | F | Denver, Colo.

• Scored the equalizer in Denver’s 1-1 draw with South Dakota that clinched at least a share of the League title
• Also scored on DU’s goal in a 2-0 triumph over South Dakota State, helping DU earn the outright regular-season title
• Became the 15^th player in Denver’s Division I history to score at least 20 goals
• This is the sixth career Summit League weekly honor for Beckman

Also nominated: Sophia Green (Omaha); Brookelyn Dew (North Dakota State); Samantha See (Oral Roberts)
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Aly Cole, North Dakota State
Sr. | GK | Andover, Minn.

• Recorded a career-high 15 saves in a double-overtime clean sheet against St. Thomas
• Tied for the third-most saves in a game in NDSU history
• This is the first career Summit League weekly award for Cole

Also nominated: Devan McSwain (Denver); Kamryn Lunde (Oral Roberts)
 
2021 Women’s Soccer Players of the Week
August 23
O: Maya Hansen, South Dakota State
D: Nerea Arrazola, Denver
 
August 30
O: Amy Andrews, Western Illinois
D: Olivia Graupmann, St. Thomas
 
September 7
O: Natalie Beckman, Denver
D: Emma Harkleroad, South Dakota
 
September 13
O: Amy Andrews, Western Illinois
D: Mia Reedtz Rehde Olesen, Omaha
 
September 20
O: Alexis Mitchell, South Dakota
D: Rachel Preston, South Dakota State
 
September 27
O: Eden Brooker, South Dakota State
D: Jocelyn Tanner, South Dakota State
 
October 4
O: Emma Wilson, Kansas City
D: Mackenzie Caldwell, Kansas City
 
October 11
O: Sydney Sharp, Denver
D: Louisa Ramsauer, Oral Roberts
 
October 18
O: Sydney Sharp, Denver
D: Emma Harkleroad, South Dakota
 
October 25
O: Kaitlyn Glover, Denver
D: Rachel Thigpen, Omaha
 
November 1
O: Natalie Beckman, Denver
D: Aly Cole, North Dakota State
 
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