Loras' O'Brien, Central's Pritchard Named A-R-C Athletes of the Week

Performers of the Week Announced in Five Sports

9/30/2019 3:07:40 PM

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The American Rivers Conference announced that Loras College women’s soccer player Ryleigh O’Brien (Hampton, Ill./United Township) and Central College men’s soccer player Charlie Pritchard (Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny) have been named American Rivers Athletes of the Week for the week ending Sunday, September 29, 2019. The Conference also announced Performers of the Week in football, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s tennis, and volleyball.
 
Female Athlete of the Week – Women’s Soccer – Offensive Player of the Week11082
Ryleigh O’Brien, Loras College
So., F, Hampton, Ill./United Township
  • O’Brien tallied nine points on the week as Loras picked up wins over UW-Platteville and Coe.
  • The second-year forward scored all three goals in Loras’ 3-0 win over UW-Platteville.
  • In the Duhawk’s conference opener, O’Brien picked up the first goal of the game and an assist as Loras defeated Coe 4-0.
  • O’Brien has totaled five goals and two assists on the year for 12 points.
  • Loras is now 7-3 overall and 1-0 in league play.
  • This is the first Offensive Player of the Week award for O’Brien.
 
Male Athlete of the Week – Men’s Soccer – Offensive Player of the Week11081
Charlie Pritchard, Central College
Fr., F, Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny
  • First-year forward, Pritchard, scored two goals in Central’s 2-0 road win over eighth-ranked Luther.
  • Pritchard has scored six goals on the year and added four assists to rank t-3rd and t-2nd in the conference, respectively.
  • The Dutch are now 9-1-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
  • The win was Central’s first at Luther since 2010.
  • Pritchard’s Offensive Player of the Week recognition is the first of his career.
 
Football – Defensive Player of the Week11083
Owen Grover, Wartburg College
Fr., LB, Dyersville, Iowa/Beckman Catholic
  • Wartburg freshman linebacker Owen Grover paced the Knights’ defense during Saturday's 42-25 victory over Dubuque, totaling 10 tackles along with one tackle for loss.
  • On the year Grover has totaled 24 tackles (10 solo, 14 assisted).
  • The Knights are currently ranked No.13 in the American Football Coaches Association Top 25 and come in at No.20 in D3football.com’s Top 25.
  • Wartburg improved to 4-0 on the year and squares off with Buena Vista next Saturday in Storm Lake, Iowa.
  • This is Grover’s first Defensive Player of the Week award.
 
Football – Offensive Player of the Week11080
Hunter Robinson, Central College
Sr., WR, Lisbon, Iowa/Lisbon
  • Robinson’s first four catches in Central’s conference opener against Loras all went for scores, as the senior tied a Dutch school record with four TD receptions in one game.
  • His TD catches were 58 yards, 58 yards, 41 yards and 7 yards.
  • He also returned one punt for 39 yards and one kickoff for 34 yards to total the third most all-purpose yards in Central school history.
  • The Dutch took down Loras 52-33.
  • Through three games, Robinson has averaged 116 yards per game
  • Central travels to Decorah next Saturday for a conference match-up with Luther.
 
Football – Special Teams Player of the Week11092
AJ Christensen, Coe College
So., FS, Leaf River, Ill./Forreston
  • Christensen blocked a punt and recovered it for a touchdown to start a 21-0 third quarter for Coe.
  • The second-year player also forced a fumble on a kickoff return.
  • The Kohawks went on to defeat Luther 52-21, improving to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in league play.
  • Coe travels to Dubuque next Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff with the Spartans.
  • This is Christensen’s first Special Teams Player of the Week award
 
Men’s Soccer – Defensive Player of the Week9451
Andrew Mathys, Central College
Sr., GK, Elburn, Ill./Kaneland
  • Mathys helped the Dutch open up conference play with a 2-1 victory over eighth-ranked Luther on Saturday, September 28.
  • The senior keeper came up with four saves against the Norse.
  • Luther’s lone goal came on an own goal.
  • Mathys and the Central defense own a 1.182 goal against average in 990 minutes of play.
  • Central now 9-1-1 dropped their first contest of the year to Carleton (8-1-0), 2-1 on Tuesday of last week.  
  • This is Mathys’ third Defensive Player of the Week honor (9/30/19, 9/2/19, 10/29/18).
 
Women’s Soccer – Defensive Player of the Week9458
Braylin Mensik, Loras College
So., D, Algonquin, Ill./Dundee Crown
  • Mensik helped the Duhawks improve to 7-3 overall with two wins last week, including their conference opener against Coe.
  • In Loras’ 3-0 win over UW-Platteville on Thursday, September 26, Mensik and the Duhawk defense held the Pioneers to five total shots and just two on goal.
  • Playing 80 minutes against Coe, Mensik scored a goal and helped the defensive unit keep the Kohawks scoreless as Loras won the contest 4-0.
  • The Duhawk defense owns a 1.10 goal against average in 900 minutes of play.
  • This is Mensik’s second Defensive Player of the Week award (9/30/19, 9/2/19).  
 
Women’s Tennis – Player of the Week9838
Devon Bourget, Luther College
Bourget, Jr., Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial
  • Luther remains unbeaten in A-R-C play after defeating previously unbeaten Loras (7-2) and ending the week with a win over Wartburg (6-3).
  • Luther also defeated NCAA II Upper Iowa University (7-2).
  • Bourget was 5-1 for the week with her only loss in singles to UIU No. 1 Shakhnaza Zhanatova (6-3, 6-2).
  • Against A-R-C players at No. 1 she defeated Audrey Hinz of Loras (6-3, 6-2) and Madison Overmann of Wartburg (6-0, 6-0).
  • At No.1 doubles the duo of Bourget and Shelby Cook defeated Noely Baumann and Audrey Hinz of Loras (8-1), Madison Overmann and Hannah Fox of Wartburg (8-4), and Deimante Krivickaite and Shakhnaza Zhanatova of UIU (8-5).
  • Bourget is 6-0 in conference play at No.1 singles and 7-3 overall.
  • At No.1 doubles she is 5-0 in conference play and 10-1 overall.
  • Bourget is earning her fifth Player of the Week honor (9/30/19, 9/23/19, 9/16/19, 4/22/19, 9/23/18).
 
Volleyball – Defensive Player of the Week9614
Katie Foster, Wartburg College
Jr., DS, Charles City, Iowa/Charles City
  • The junior tallied 91 digs for the Knights in their three matches last week, averaging 7.58 digs/set in those matches.
  • She picked up 36 digs in the only conference match of the week against Dubuque, and tallied 55 total digs in two matches at the Augustana (Ill.) Vikings Classic.
  • In Foster’s first two seasons she was voted first-team all-conference, along with earning the league’s Freshman of the Year honor in 2017.
  • Foster is now a 12-time Defensive Player of the Week (9/30/19, 9/23/19, 9/16/19, 9/10/19, 10/29/18, 10/15/18, 10/8/18, 9/3/18, 11/5/17, 10/29/17, 9/24/17, 9/3/17).
 
Volleyball – Offensive Player of the Week9607
Kayla Kinney, Loras College
Sr., MB, Las Vegas, Nev./Palo Verde
  • The senior totaled 47 kills in the Duhawks three matches last week, including a .365 hitting percentage in those matches.
  • She helped lead Loras to their first sweep over Coe since 2010 in route to winning their A-R-C opener.
  • Kinney helped the Duhawks defeat the Titans of Wisconsin-Oshkosh for the first time in program history, winning 3-1.
  • This is Kinney’s second Offensive Player of the Week accolade (9/30/19, 9/9/19).
 
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