SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – Spring Arbor University freshman Bethany Balcer (Hudsonville, MI/Unity Christian) and senior Kristina Sobel (Shelby Township, MI/Dakota) have been named the Crossroads League Women’s Soccer Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, as announced by the league office on Monday.
The award is the third straight, and fourth of the season, for Balcer while Sobel earned the distinction for the first time in her career.
In the NAIA Game of the Week last Wednesday night, Balcer scored the game-winning goal to lift the Cougars to a 1-0 victory over previously unbeaten No. 8 Grace College 1-0. The Hudsonville, Michigan native also added a goal and assist in SAU’s 9-0 win against Bethel College.
Balcer continues to lead the league in points (38), goals (15) and assists (8). She currently ranks sixth in the NAIA in points, sixth in goals and 14th in assists.
Sobel anchored an SAU defense that recorded two shutouts last week, giving the team five clean sheets in the last six matches. Grace and Bethel were only able to mount a combined eight total shots against the Cougars, and only two of those attempts were on target.
Spring Arbor has allowed just one goal over the last 543 minutes of action, and ranks third in the Crossroads League in goals allowed per game (0.93).
No. 9 ranked Spring Arbor (11-2-1, 5-0-0 CL) currently sits tied atop the Crossroads League standings with Marian University (11-3-0, 5-0-0 CL). The Cougars will look to take over sole possession of first place when they take on the Knights in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m.