INDIANAPOLIS -- Detroit junior forward Kaitlyn Quarrell (Thunder Bay, Ontario) and Cleveland State senior midfielder Jaime Avona (Boardman, Ohio) are the Horizon League Women’s Soccer Co-Offensive Players of the Week, while Detroit junior goalkeeper Nora Abolins (Demorestville, Ontario) has earned Defensive Player of the Week for the week of Aug. 20-26. The award is the second for both Quarrell and Abolins.
Detroit (2-2-0) recorded a 2-1 week, controlling matches against Canisius (4-0) and Marygrove (3-0) before narrowly falling at Michigan, 1-0. Cleveland State (2-2-0) dominated IUPUI, 5-1, before suffering an overtime setback at Eastern Illinois, 3-2.
Quarrell posted her first career hat trick in just a 10:57 span of Detroit’s win over Canisius, scoring the first three goals of the match. Adding an assist versus Marygrove, Quarrell recorded seven points in the week, which ties for first in the Horizon League.
Like Quarrell, Avona notched her first career hat trick, coming in the Vikings’ 5-1 triumph at IUPUI. Avona’s hat trick was just the second in Cleveland State history, while the team’s five goals were the second-highest total in program history. All three of Avona’s shots in the match found the back of the net.
Playing all 270 minutes last week, Abolins recorded two shutouts, allowing just one goal across three matches, coming on a deflection off a defender. In 40 career matches, the junior has 17 shutouts.
Detroit will stay in the metropolitan area over Labor Day weekend, traveling to Oakland University for an 8 p.m. ET match on Friday, Aug. 31. Cleveland State will travel to Canisius for a match on Sunday, Sept. 2, beginning at 4 p.m. ET.
Top Offensive Performers for the Week:
Helen Steinhauser, Milwaukee (Sr., M) - Tallied Milwaukee’s second goal of the match against Miami, temporarily putting the Panthers ahead, 2-1.
Sarrah Ludwig, Valparaiso (Fr., M) - Connected for the equalizing goal in the 85th minute of Valparaiso’s 1-1 draw with Kent State.
Emelie Fillion, Wright State (Sr., F) - Recorded her third goal of the year in Wright State's 1-1 draw with Denver, her third goal in as many matches.
Rachel Morrison, Youngstown State (Jr., F) - Made her first career goal the game-winner in YSU’s 3-2 win at Robert Morris.
Top Defensive Performers for the Week:
Kristen Manski, Valparaiso (Jr., GK) - Recorded five saves across two matches.
Lauren Patterson, Wright State (Sr., D) - Tallied Wright State's goal in a 2-1 defeat at Colorado; helped hold NCAA participant Denver to one goal to open Omni Hotels Colorado Classic.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Players of the Week:
August 13: Amy Kauffung, Milwaukee
August 20: Kaitlyn Quarrell, Detroit
Jaime Avona, Cleveland State
Women’s Soccer Defensive Players of the Week:
August 13: Jamie Forbes, Milwaukee
August 20: Nora Abolins, Detroit
