For all the goals scored by Australians in Week 1, pickings were a little slimmer in Week 2 as just one player found the back of the net. However, that one goal was an absolute blinder as a couple of defenders found themselves on the scoresheet in one way or another.
Caitlin Le Roux had seen solid playing time at Louisiana Tech before transferring to Northwestern State, but one thing was missing from her résumé: a goal. However, that changed during the Demons’ match against Rice as the defender scored from an incredibly acute angle to halve a 2-0 deficit with 15 minutes to play. Although Northwestern State would not be able to find the equaliser, the goal in itself is a moment to cherish for the South Australian. Le Roux would finish with two shots in 53 minutes of action, having also played 70 minutes earlier in the week in a loss to Mississippi State, settling into her new surrounds like a duck to water.
Meanwhile, Jasmine Barry also found herself involved in a goal as UNC Asheville secured a 1-0 win over Davidson. The defender’s sumptuous long ball forward allowed Nao Kawasaki to outrun the defence, and with the goalkeeper in two minds as to come out or stay at home, the Japanese forward was able to slot the ball home. Barry also finished with a shot on target in her 63 minutes of action as the Bulldogs moved to 2-1 to start the season.
Elsewhere, there was encouraging news for other defenders, particularly in the northeast of the country as Hannah Peric played the full 90 minutes for the fourth consecutive occasion to start the season. Having made just six starts in only 11 appearances in 2022, Peric has already played 360 minutes, less than three halves of football shy of the 488 minutes she managed last season. Although her Massachusetts team could only come away with a draw against UMass-Lowell and a loss to Yale, Peric was her usual menacing self at attacking set pieces, finishing with 3 shots, all of which were on target.
This week also saw Annie Grove make her first appearance of the season for UMBC, and the fullback hit the ground running. The Retrievers finished with a 1-0 win over Long Island for their first clean sheet against an NCAA Division I team in 2023, with Grove almost ever-present. The former Canberra United Academy star played 85 minutes, only spending the final five minutes of the first half off the pitch as normal service returned for a player who started 17 games in 2022 and played the full 90 minutes on eight occasions.
Finally, down in the deep south, Jacquelline Kambere made her debut for Mississippi Valley State as the Devilettes put in a valiant shift in a 2-1 loss to Southern Miss. The junior college transfer came off the bench to play 17 minutes in a match that saw Mississippi Valley State take an early lead before Southern Miss responded with a goal in either half to take the 2-1 win.
Alabama State (Madison Chambers, Grace Norbury)
This week: lost 4-1 to UAB; lost 9-0 to Mercer
Both Aussies made two starts for Alabama State this week. Madison Chambers played the full 90 minutes against UAB and 33 minutes in the loss to Mercer, whilst Grace Norbury played 74 minutes against UAB and 66 minutes against Mercer.
Bellarmine (Teagan Douglas)
This week: lost 3-0 to IUPUI; defeated UIndy 1-0
Teagan Douglas started both games for Bellarmine this week, finishing with a shot on target in 88 minutes against IUPUI before playing 56 minutes in the win over UIndy.
Butler (Claire Farrington)
This week: lost 4-1 to Notre Dame; lost 1-0 to Western Mich.
Claire Farrington returned to the starting lineup for Butler to play the full 90 minutes on both occasions this week.
Central Michigan (Shivani Battaglia)
This week: drew 0-0 with Wright St.
Shivani Battaglia did not feature in Central Michigan’s draw with Wright State.
Coastal Carolina (Asha McClurg)
This week: lost 3-0 to Charlotte; defeated Col. of Charleston 2-0
Asha McClurg did not feature for Coastal Carolina on either occasion this week.
Dartmouth (Kate Ryan)
This week: drew 2-2 with Eastern Mich.; defeated Quinnipiac 1-0
Kate Ryan did not feature for Dartmouth on either occasion this week.
Denver (Isabella Chidiac)
This week: drew 0-0 with Marquette; drew 3-3 with Milwaukee
Isabella Chidiac came off the bench to play 16 minutes in Denver’s draw with Marquette, but did not feature against Milwaukee as the Pioneers begin the season with four consecutive draws.
Eastern Kentucky (Sophie MacAlpine)
This week: drew 1-1 with Belmont
Sophie MacAlpine came off the bench for Eastern Kentucky in their draw with Belmont, playing 35 minutes.
Grambling State (Aimee Benton)
This week: lost 3-0 to Louisiana; drew 0-0 with Lamar
Aimee Benton came off the bench against Louisiana to make one save in 17 minutes, before playing the full 90 minutes and making four saves in Grambling State’s draw with Lamar.
Hawaii (Eliza Ammendolia)
This week: defeated Sacramento St. 3-1
Eliza Ammendolia came off the bench to play 45 minutes in Hawaii’s win over Sacramento State, finishing with two shots of which one was on target.
High Point (Meg Roden)
This week: defeated UNC Greensboro 1-0; drew 0-0 with App State
Meg Roden did not feature for High Point against UNC Greensboro, but came off the bench to finish with three shots on target in 49 minutes against Appalachian State.
Illinois (Isabel Rolley)
This week: defeated Xavier 1-0; drew 0-0 with Dayton
Isabel Rolley came off the bench on both occasions this week, finishing with two shots in 35 minutes against Xavier and another shot in 33 minutes against Dayton.
Kent State (Lua Suero)
This week: lost 1-0 to Pittsburgh; defeated Cleveland St. 2-0
Lua Suero did not feature in Kent State’s loss to Pittsburgh, but came off the bench to play 19 minutes in the win over Cleveland State.
La Salle (Courtney Butlion)
This week: lost 2-1 to Delaware; lost 5-0 to Princeton
Courtney Butlion started in La Salle’s loss to Delaware, finishing with a single shot in 74 minutes before coming off the bench against Princeton to tally another shot in 45 minutes.
Little Rock (Cameron Barreiro, Emily Jensen, Candice Kilderry, Bronte Peel)
This week: drew 1-1 with Oral Roberts; lost 8-0 to Oklahoma St.
All four Aussies saw playing time for Little Rock this week. Cameron Barreiro came off the bench against Oral Roberts to play 51 minutes before being elevated to the starting lineup to play 52 minutes against Oklahoma State. Bronte Peel started both games, playing 77 minutes against Oral Roberts and tallying a shot in 54 minutes against Oklahoma State. Candice Kilderry finished with identical stat lines in both games, coming off the bench to play 36 minutes on each occasion. Emily Jensen started and played 75 minutes in the draw with Oral Roberts, but did not feature against Oklahoma State.
Long Island (Matilda Boyle, Isabella Stein)
This week: lost 1-0 to UMBC
Matilda Boyle started for Long Island in their loss to UMBC, playing 33 minutes. Izzy Stein did not feature for the Sharks on this occasion.
Louisiana (Emma Bates)
This week: defeated Grambling 3-0; defeated SFA 1-0
Emma Bates came off the bench for Louisiana in both games this week, playing 18 minutes against Grambling State and 39 minutes in the win over Stephen F. Austin.
Maine (Lara Kirkby)
This week: drew 1-1 with Holy Cross; defeated Stonehill 5-1
Lara Kirkby started both games for Maine this week, playing 76 minutes against Holy Cross and 57 minutes in the win over Stonehill.
Massachusetts (Hannah Peric)
This week: drew 2-2 with UMass Lowell; lost 2-1 to Yale
Hannah Peric played the full 90 minutes in both games this week, finishing with three shots against Yale, putting all three on target.
Mississippi Valley State (Jacquelline Kambere)
This week: lost 2-1 to Southern Miss.
Jacquelline Kambere came off the bench for Mississippi Valley State in their loss to Southern Miss, playing 17 minutes.
Morehead State (Natasha Tanner)
This week: lost 3-0 to Indiana
Natasha Tanner did not feature in Morehead State’s loss to Indiana.
Northwestern State (Caitlin Le Roux)
This week: lost 3-0 to Mississippi St.; lost 2-1 to Rice
Caitlin Le Roux started both games for Northwestern State this week, playing 70 minutes in the loss to Mississippi State, before scoring the Demons’ only goal with one of her two shots in 53 minutes against Rice.
Oral Roberts (Layla Lopez)
This week: drew 1-1 with Little Rock; defeated Tulsa 2-1
Layla Lopez did not feature for Oral Roberts on either occasion this week.
Oregon State (Katie Godden)
This week: defeated UC San Diego 2-0
Katie Godden started for Oregon State in their victory over UC San Diego, playing 45 minutes.
Pacific (Libby Davy)
This week: lost 2-0 to UC Irvine; defeated UC Santa Barbara 3-1
Libby Davy played the full 90 minutes on both occasions this week, making four saves in the loss to UC Irvine and three more in the win over UC Santa Barbara.
Rider (Eloise Jones)
This week: drew 0-0 with Temple; lost 1-0 to Seton Hall
Eloise Jones did not feature for Rider in either game this week.
Santa Clara (Holly Furphy)
This week: defeated Washington 5-1; defeated Seattle U 2-0
Holly Furphy did not feature in Santa Clara’s win over Washington, but came off the bench to reel off three shots, with two on target, in 34 minutes against Seattle.
Seton Hall (Grace Mitchell, Sarah Mitchell)
This week: defeated Binghamton 3-0; defeated Rider 1-0
Neither Grace nor Sarah Mitchell featured for Seton Hall this week as they both recover from season-ending injuries.
Siena (Iona Snape)
This week: drew 2-2 with Western Ky.; lost 3-2 to Lipscomb
Iona Snape started against Western Kentucky before coming off the bench against Lipscomb, but finished with identical stat lines of a shot in 55 minutes of action in both games.
Southern Illinois (Chantelle Symes)
This week: drew 1-1 with Kansas City; lost 2-0 to Southeast Mo. St.
Chantelle Symes did not feature in Southern Illinois’ draw with Kansas City, but played the full 90 minutes against Southeast Missouri State, finishing with five saves as the sophomore continues to split time between the sticks with local player Ary Lougher.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Molly Arens)
This week: lost 4-0 to FGCU; lost 3-0 to Fla. Atlantic
Molly Arens started both matches for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi this week, tallying a shot in 28 minutes against FGCU and playing 53 minutes in the loss to Florida Atlantic.
UAB (Abbey Burns)
This week: defeated Alabama St. 4-1; defeated Jacksonville St. 3-0
Abbey Burns came off the bench to play 29 minutes against Alabama State, before moving into the starting lineup to play 57 minutes in the Blazers’ win over Jacksonville State.
UMBC (Isobel Davy, Annaliese Grove)
This week: lost 2-0 to Drexel; defeated LIU 1-0
Neither Aussie featured for UMBC in their loss to Drexel, but Annie Grove made her first appearance of the season against LIU, playing 85 minutes in the win.
UNC Asheville (Jasmine Barry)
This week: defeated Davidson 1-0; match v South Carolina St. postponed.
Jasmine Barry started for UNC Asheville in their win over Davidson, playing 62 minutes and tallying a shot on target whilst also providing the assist for the game’s only goal.
USC (Talia Grossman)
This week: defeated Duke 3-1; lost 4-0 to North Carolina
Talia Grossman did not feature for USC this week as she continues to recover from injury.
VCU (Greta Kraszula)
This week: lost 2-0 to Old Dominion; drew 1-1 with William & Mary
Greta Kraszula played the full 90 minutes in both games this week, finishing with two shots against Old Dominion, of which one was on target.
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