NCAA Week 8: Players to Watch

F – Arin Gilliland (Kentucky, Junior) – Kentucky picked up a statement win over Tennessee on Friday night and the Junior forward had a career night. Gilliland bagged a hat trick in the first half en route to a 4-1 victory for the Wildcats. That performance against the Vols now gives her seven goals and eight assists on the season.

F – Jennifer Meier (Rider, Senior) – The Senior goalscorer for Rider had a big week on the scoresheet. In a 3-0 win over Iona on the weekend, Meier picked up her second career hat trick. That came after picking up a goal and an assist in the mid-week against Saint Peter’s, picking up nine points from the two contests. Overall on the season, Meier leads the team with nine goals and 21 points.

F – Kate Schwindel (West Virginia, Junior) – West Virginia received consecutive one goal, one assist performances from the junior forward this week. On Friday’s 2-0 win over Iowa State she assisted on the first goal and scored the insurance tally. Then on Sunday’s thrilling 3-2 overtime win, Schwindel assisted on the second goal for West Virginia then scored her 10th goal of the season in overtime to clinch the victory.

M – Danielle Colaprico (Virginia, Junior) – Virginia was involved in a top-five showdown against a tough Notre Dame side and came away a 3-2 winner in overtime. Colaprico had a field day on the flanks for the Cavaliers, assisting on two goals including the game winner via the corner kick. The Junior midfielder now has seven assists on the season which is good for second on the team.

M – Julie Johnston (Santa Clara, Senior) – Johnston was a difference maker in Santa Clara’s two victories this week. The USWNT-capped midfielder had the game winning goal in a 1-0 victory over San Diego and on the weekend, she assisted the game tying goal for the Broncos against BYU. Eventually Santa Clara would pick up the second goal and is now sitting on top of the WCC standings.

M – Crystal Dunn (North Carolina, Senior) – It was a big weekend for the reigning MAC Hermann Trophy winner as UNC went 2-0 this week. In a 3-0 win over rivals NC State, Dunn had two goals and picked up an assist on Sunday’s 1-0 win over a pesky Boston College side. Dunn is the team leader in goals with 11 and points with 25 with only five games left in the regular season.

M – Anna Willis (Denver, Junior) – As Denver rolled for two victories this week, Willis was a standout for the Pioneers. In their 2-0 win over Western Illinois, the Junior midfielder was “Johnny on the Spot” to finish the first goal of the game off of a rebound. Then in a 6-0 rout of IUPUI, Willis picked up a goal and an assist in the contest, bringing her season totals to four goals and four assists.

D – Emily Jacobson (Marquette, Senior) – Marquette needed a cumulative effort on Sunday to shut down Big East rivals Georgetown, a team who averaged over three goals scored a game. But the senior leader on defense went the full 90 and led the Golden Eagles to a 4-0 shutout win and allowed only four shots on target in the match.

D – Caprice Dydasco (UCLA, Junior) – UCLA had a stretch of playing three matches this week and came out with wins at Stanford and California and a draw to Washington, only allowing one goal in those three matches. Dydasco played 260 of 305 possible minutes for the Bruins in those three matches and assisted the game winning goal in the 1-0 victory over California on Sunday

D – Megan Campbell (Florida State, Junior) – The Junior defender makes her second consecutive appearance on this list because of her efforts this week. Campbell played all but one minute from the two matches and had two assists as well. The first was on the game winner in overtime against Syracuse where her long throw in allowed Dagny Brynjarsdottir to score the goal. Then on Sunday’s 4-0 win over Pittsburgh, in a game where Florida State did not allow a shot, Campbell picked up another assist, giving her five on the season.

G – Taylor Bucklin (Michigan, Freshman) – Michigan defeated Penn State 1-0 on Sunday, the first time in program history where the Wolverines beat the Nittany Lions in Happy Valley. The scoreline was due in large part to the Freshman netminder where Bucklin posted a career-high seven saves in the contest and picked up her fifth shutout of the season.