NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Atlantic 10 Conference recognized Richmond senior Taylor Montague as the league’s initial Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week while Spider teammate Gwen Howell notched Rookie honors. Additionally, Dayton sophomore Mairin Wessner secured the first Offensive Player of the Week laurels. The awards were announced Monday following the conclusion of the opening week of contests played Aug. 17-20.
 
A native of Northville, Mich., Wessner led the Flyers’ high-scoring offense with three total goals and an assist across a pair of victories for Dayton throughout the opening week of action. After scoring her first score of the season in UD’s 4-1 win over Loyola Maryland on Thursday, the sophomore striker doubled down to register two more goals and tally an assist against in-state foe Cincinnati in second 4-1 Flyer victory.
 
Montague, a product of Durham, N.C., paced the Spiders to two complete shutouts – the ninth and 10th of her collegiate career – in the opening week of competition, swiping six saves against 22 shots faced for a 1-0-1 record. In the victory (1-0) against Longwood on Thursday, a first for Richmond since 2016, the senior faced 11 shots across 90 minutes while coming up with a key save in the 69th minute to preserve the clean sheet. In the home opener on Sunday, Montague recorded five saves in yet another full time performance for a 0-0 scoreline.
 
Howell, who made her collegiate debut with Richmond this past Thursday, proved a key component in helping Richmond finish 1-0-1 this past week, serving as a definitive member of the Spider back line. Throughout the season-opening win against Longwood and the weekend draw versus Nevada, the freshman logged back-to-back complete 90-minute outings as the UR defensive front posted a pair of notable shutout performances.


PREVIOUS WOMEN'S SOCCER WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS
 

DATE	OFFENSIVE	DEFENSIVE	ROOKIE
Aug. 21	Mairin Wessner, UD	Taylor Montague, UR	Gwen Howell, UR