The Great Lakes Valley Conference released its weekly award winners on Monday, Sept. 8 with University of Wisconsin-Parkside defender Karley Mecko claiming Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week accolades.
Mecko secures the honor after helping anchor a backline that posted two shutouts and allowed just one shot on goal over the weekend as the Rangers (2-0) rolled Northwood University 3-0 on Thursday and downed the University of Charleston 4-0 on Sunday.
Against Northwood, Mecko was part of a defensive unit that limited the Timberwolves to just two total shots and none on frame. Two days later against Charleston, the applied health science major and her defensive colleagues yielded just three shots and only one on target. Mecko additionally proved to be a threat on the offensive end of the pitch, scoring the eventual game-winner against the Golden Eagles on a corner kick in the eighth minute before tacking on an insurance goal in the 58th minute.
Spanning back to the 2013 season, the Rangers have gone 199 minutes without allowing a goal.
The Crystal Lake, Illinois native is the Rangers' first GLVC Defensive Player of the Week honoree since goalkeeper
Mallory Geurts claimed the honor during the final week of the 2013 season on Nov. 4. It was Geurts' third GLVC Player of the Week accolade in 2013, also earning the distinction on Oct. 7 and Sept. 9.
The Rangers return to action on Friday, hosting Missouri University S&T to open up GLVC play. Kickoff at Wood Road Field is slated for 3:30 p.m.
