The Great Lakes Valley Conference released its weekly award winners on Monday, Oct. 20 with the University of Wisconsin-Parkside's
Emily Konior earning GLVC Women's Soccer Defender of the Week accolades for the second time this season.
Konior claims the award after anchoring a stout Ranger defense that allowed just five shots on goal last weekend, posting a pair of 2-1 victories over regionally-ranked opposition. The senior was additionally 12th-ranked UW-Parkside's (12-0-2, 10-0-2 GLVC) primary offensive weapon, generating 75 percent of the team's offense over the weekend, including both game-winning goals.
Against Truman State University on Friday, Konior limited the Bulldogs, ranked sixth in the Midwest Region, to just four shots on goal while netting the game-winning goal on a penalty kick in the 81st minute. Two days later against Quincy University, the criminal justice major accounted for both Rangers goals in the 2-1 win over the Midwest Region's 10th-ranked squad. Konior drilled a shot from 30-yards out on a free kick in the 21st minute before capping off Senior Day with a penalty kick goal in the 74th minute. Defensively, Konior and the defense allowed Quincy to take just one shot on goal and limited the defending GLVC Champions to just four total shots on the afternoon.
The senior made the most of her opportunities over the weekend, scoring on all three shots she attempted. Konior leads the team with eight goals on the season including four game-winning goals.
This is the fourth time this season a Ranger has been selected as GLVC Defender of the Week, including the second time Konior has landed the honor. The Huntley, Illinois native previously won the honor on Sept. 22 while
Karley Mecko was honored on Sept. 8 and
Niekie Pellens last week. The three defenders have been instrumental in the team's success this season, allowing just four goals on the season while posting 10 shutouts.