ST LOUIS – Following a strong performance that helped the Redbirds go unbeaten in the opening week of the regular season Illinois State sophomore Ava Watson was named Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week, as announced by the league office Tuesday.
Watson started both matches and played all 90 minutes as Illinois State beat Green Bay and tied Purdue Fort Wayne. The Redbirds surrendered just one goal, the fewest by any Valley team who played two games in the opening week of the season. Illinois State allowed 14 total shots in the two results, including just 4 shots on goal, a defensive effort that was led by Watson.
She is the first Redbird to earn Valley Defensive Player of the Week since 2019, when Haley Smith did so four times.
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