Southwest Baptist, Upper Iowa Earn Final Women's Soccer GLVC Players of the Week Awards

Final GLVC Women’s Soccer Weekly Honors Awarded to Young and Harding

The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) has officially closed the books on its weekly honors for the 2026 women’s soccer season. In an announcement released by the league office on Wednesday, Southwest Baptist senior forward Katelynn Young and Upper Iowa sophomore goalkeeper Avery Harding were named the final Athletic Solutions Players of the Week. This recognition marks the conclusion of the regular-season awards cycle, highlighting individual performances that defined the closing stretch of the conference schedule.

Katelynn Young’s Offensive Impact for the Bearcats

Katelynn Young, a nursing major from Kansas City, Missouri, secured her first career Offensive Player of the Week honor after a standout performance that kept Southwest Baptist competitive in their final outings. Over the course of the week, Young accounted for three of the Bearcats’ four total goals, proving instrumental in the team’s ability to navigate a challenging three-game stretch. She recorded a 2-0 victory against Drury on October 21, followed by a 2-2 draw with McKendree on October 24 and a scoreless deadlock against Rockhurst on October 27.

Her statistical output was significant, totaling six points across those three matches. Young was notably active in the final third, firing seven shots—five of which were on target—over a combined 205 minutes of play. This selection marks the first time a Southwest Baptist player has received the offensive weekly award since Tamerra Gantt was honored on October 21, 2024.

Avery Harding’s Defensive Resilience for the Peacocks

On the defensive side of the ledger, Upper Iowa sophomore Avery Harding earned her first career Defensive Player of the Week accolade. The kinesiology major from Council Bluffs, Iowa, was tasked with anchoring the Peacocks’ defense during a high-pressure encounter against Lewis on October 24. Despite facing a barrage of 24 shots throughout the 90-minute match, Harding managed to turn away 16 of them, helping her team secure a 2-2 draw.

Harding’s performance provided a critical defensive anchor as the season reached its final stage. Her recognition ends a drought for the Upper Iowa program, which had not seen a player earn the league’s defensive weekly honor since Sienna Johnson was selected on September 15, 2025.

Contextualizing the GLVC Competitive Landscape

The selection of Young and Harding underscores the intensity of the GLVC’s final week, where defensive durability and clinical finishing often dictate the difference between a win and a draw. In a conference known for its parity, the ability to sustain high-volume save rates, as demonstrated by Harding, or to capitalize on limited scoring opportunities, as shown by Young, remains the primary barometer for post-season positioning. These awards, sponsored by Athletic Solutions, serve as the final individual acknowledgments before the league shifts its focus toward the tournament bracket and the broader implications of the season’s final standings.