MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The SSAC announced the 2026 SSAC Women’s Soccer Players of the Week. Julia Gurgel of Xavier was named SSAC Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week and Sam De Gier of UT Southern was named SSAC Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week.
Offensive: Julia Gurgel (Xavier – JR – FWD – Joao Pessoa, Paraiba, Brazil)
- This is her first-career weekly honor
- Gurgel totaled 23 points on 11 goals and one assist across a pair of conference victories
- She had eight goals v. ABAC and a hat trick plus one assist v. Wesleyan
Defensive: Sam De Gier (UT Southern – FR – GK – Breukelen, The Netherlands)
- This is her second-career weekly honor
- De Gier delivered a pair of shutouts across two conference games, totaling six saves
- She posted a four-save shutout in a 1-0 road victory at Thomas
Previous Winners (Offensive, Defensive)
Week 1: Daria Cwynar (Brewton-Parker Christian), Sam De Gier (UT Southern)
Week 2: Cassie Jackson (Faulkner), Alicia Garwood (William Carey)
Week 3: Gabriela Munoz (Brewton-Parker Christian), Kloe Ernst (Mobile)
Week 4: Courtney Hicks (UT Southern), Kamilia Tayebi (UT Southern)
Week 5: Millie Rayner (UT Southern), Aylin Yildirim (Xavier)
Week 6: Millie Rayner (UT Southern), Millie Wilson (Andrew)