SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota fifth-year senior midfielder Alexis Mitchell and South Dakota State senior defender Rachel Preston led their respective programs to a victory last week and were named the TicketSmarter Summit League Women’s Soccer Players of the Week, league officials announced on Monday. Mitchell scored the game-winning goal against a Power-Five program, while Preston played all 90 minutes on defense in a shutout win.
 
Mitchell guided the Coyotes to its first win over a Power-Five opponent in program history with a 1-0 triumph over Iowa State, capping the non-league season and heads to league play with a four-match winning streak. Against the Cyclones, the Lee’s Summit, Mo., native received the ball in the box and headed one past the Cyclone goalkeeper in the 25^th-minute. In total, Mitchell put up two shots with both being on goal in 85 minutes of action.
 
Preston led an SDSU defense to its fifth shutout of the season and helped the Jackrabbits tie a program record by allowing only one shot in a 2-0 home victory against Northern Illinois. The Lakeville, Minn., native played a team-high 90 minutes at center back and took one shot in the contest.
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Alexis Mitchell, South Dakota
Gr. | MF | Lee’s Summit, Mo.

• Connected on a game-winning header against Iowa State
• With the goal, USD recorded its first win over a Power-Five school in program history
• This is the third career Summit League weekly award for Mitchell

Also nominated: Samantha Guzman (Oral Roberts); Jenna Lundgren (Western Illinois); Abby Brantner (St. Thomas)
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Rachel Preston, South Dakota State
Sr. | D | Lakeville, Minn.

• Led a SDSU defensive line playing a team-high 90 minutes at center back in a 2-0 home win against Northern Illinois
• Helped a Jackrabbit defense tie a program record allowing only one shot in the victory
• This is the second career Summit League weekly honor for Preston

Also nominated: Emma Wilson (Kansas City); Gabrielle Abbey (Oral Roberts); Emma Harkleroad (South Dakota)
 
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
 
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