Marshall University Athletics
Simmons Named C-USA Offensive Player of the Week
9/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
IRVING, Texas ââ'¬" For the second consecutive week, the Marshall women's soccer program (5-1-0) garnered a Conference USA weekly honor as senior forward Erin Simmons (Gahanna, Ohio) was named Offensive Player of the Week on Tuesday.
Simmons totaled eight points (3 G, 2 A) to pace the Thundering Herd to a pair of weekend wins. The senior opened the week with a goal in a 3-2 win over Ohio on Sept. 4. On Monday, Simmons exploded for two goals and two assists as Marshall dominated Eastern Kentucky, 5-1. The Gahanna, Ohio, native is fourth in the league in total points (11) and is currently riding a three-match scoring streak. As a team, Marshall pushed its win streak to five games, the longest stretch since the 2009 campaign.
"Erin certainly had a good weekend, but more than that, when you put in perspective where she has had to come from over the past year, it is really an amazing story," Herd coach Kevin Long said. "She is playing the best soccer of her career right now and along with her teammates. She is carrying a little more confidence in the attack than we have ever seen before. She is consistently one of the hardest workers on the team, the fittest we have ever had, and producing regularly in every year she has played for us. I couldn't be prouder of her accomplishments to date, and I look forward to see where the season will take Erin and the Herd."
The honor marks the first time Marshall has earned back-to-back weekly awards, in addition the first time the Herd has had two in the same season. Sydney Arnold (Stafford, Va.) earned the title last week for her performances against IUPUI (Aug. 28) and Indiana State (Aug. 30).
Simmons is one of four Herd players all-time to earn the honor, and it is the second of her career. She earned the accolade almost one year ago on Sept. 15, 2014, for her showings against Cincinnati (Sept. 12, 2014) and, interestingly enough, EKU (Sept. 14, 2014). Other winners include Arnold (Aug. 31, 2015), now-assistant coach Erika Duncan (Oct. 25, 2010) and Molly Snead (Sept. 7, 2009).
As the Herd makes its way further into the season, Simmons is making her mark on the Marshall record book. She is tied for fourth place all-time with 17 career goals and 144 shots, and tied for fifth with 43 career points.
Up next, the Herd will take its five-match win streak on the road to East Tennessee State (Sept. 11) and Appalachian State (Sept. 13).
---HerdZone.com---
