Offensive Player of the Week
Kristina Syragakis, Francis Marion

A sophomore forward from Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec in Canada, Kristina Syragakis scored three goals and recorded an assist in two wins last week for Francis Marion. 

Syragakis opened last week by scoring the tying goal and then assisting on the match-winning goal in Francis Marion’s come-from-behind 3-1 win over Shaw in Durham, North Carolina on Sept. 6. She followed that up by scoring both goals in Francis Marion’s 2-1 win over Erskine at home on Sept. 9.

In the win over Erskine, Syragakis first scored on a penalty kick in the 49th minute. She netted the match-winning goal with just 1:52 left in the match from seven yards out. Francis Marion has now won six consecutive matches dating back to last season and the team is off to its best start since 2000 at 3-0-0. 

Syragakis is currently second in Conference Carolinas in goals (five) and points (11).  

Defensive Player of the Week 
Ilaya Bigford, UNC Pembroke

A senior from Richlands, North Carolina, Ilaya Bigford of UNC Pembroke helped her team to an impressive defensive performance in a conference-opening 5-0 win over Converse on Sept. 9. 

Bigford was a huge part of a UNC Pembroke defensive unit that limited Converse to just one shot in the match. She was one of just two for UNC Pembroke to play the entire 90 minutes. 

2023 Conference Carolinas Women’s Soccer Weekly Awards
 
Week 2 (Sept. 12, 2023)

Offensive Player of the Week: Kristina Syragakis, Francis Marion
Defensive Player of the Week: Ilaya Bigford, UNC Pembroke

Learn more about all weekly/monthly award winners in Conference Carolinas here.

Offensive Player of the Week
Luis Weber, Barton

A senior forward from Stuttgart, Germany, Luis Weber scored twice in the second half for Barton in its 3-0 victory over preseason favorite and defending league champion Converse. 

The first goal of the match for Weber came in the 59th minute when he headed in a Nico Rocksien free kick. He added another in the 67th minute when he opportunistically scored off a blocked shot to make it 3-0 in favor of the Bulldogs. 

Weber is presently among the top-five in scoring in the 2023 season in Conference Carolinas.

Defensive Player of the Week 
Will Whitman, Belmont Abbey

A junior from Greensboro, North Carolina, Will Whitman made a huge difference in his second start of the season between the pipes in Belmont Abbey’s conference-opening 2-0 win over Chowan on Sept. 9. 

In securing the clean sheet, Whitman made two saves to keep Chowan scoreless for the entire match. Whitman faced 10 shots from Chowan in the match.  

2023 Conference Carolinas Men’s Soccer Weekly Awards
 
Week 2 (Sept. 12, 2023)

Offensive Player of the Week: Luis Weber, Barton 
Defensive Player of the Week: Will Whitman, Belmont Abbey

Learn more about all weekly/monthly award winners in Conference Carolinas here.