Kuhl As They Come For Weekly Awards
AVON, Ohio – Anna Kuhl has experienced game-winning free kicks before, but none as big as the one she hit Saturday.
Her drive into the goal Saturday against Marian pushed the Grace women’s soccer team into the Crossroads League championship game after its 1-0 win at 1st Source Bank Field. Kuhl was named the Crossroads League Defensive Player of the Week, attaching the game winner to a pair of shutouts her and the Lancer defense posted in wins against Marian and Huntington in the conference tournament. Grace plays Spring Arbor this Saturday for the Crossroads League title.
The Crossroads League Athletes of the Week were announced on Monday, recognizing the top athletes from the week of October 29 through November 5. Sports Information Directors from the league nominate student-athletes for the award and vote on each week’s winners.
Grace also had a pair of volleyballers make the weekly awards list.
Gina Novotny and Gabbey Harrington were both honored, Novotny as the Defender of the Week and Harrington as the Setter of the Week.
Harrington’s honor was notable as she was filling in for the injured Alexa Hill, who is an All-American setter for the Lancers. Harrington had 37 assists, nine digs and eight kills in a 3-0 win over Taylor Saturday night in the opening round of the Crossroads League Tourney. For the week, which included a 3-1 loss to Goshen in the final match of the regular season, Harrington averaged 12.7 assists, 2.9 digs and 1.9 kills.
Novotny was again stellar for the Lancer backline, notching 49 digs in two matches, averaging seven digs per set and had 23 in the Taylor win.
Grace will visit Marian Wednesday night in the semi-finals of the conference tournament.
The remainder of the Crossroads League awards are:
Men’s Basketball Player of the Week
Trevion Crews, Bethel
Crews led Bethel to a 3-0 week, including an 83-69 win over No. 5 Indiana Tech. The sophomore guard netted 26 points, seven boards and seven assists in that win and averaged 18.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game, while shooting 58.3 percent from the field.
Women’s Basketball Player of the Week
Taylor Gregory, Mount Vernon Nazarene
Gregory averaged 18.0 points, 15.5 rebounds and 5.0 blocks per game in Mount Vernon Nazarene’s wins over Roosevelt and Trinity Christian. The sophomore forward posted double-doubles in each contest, highlighted by 23 points, 19 boards and six blocks against Roosevelt.
Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Chris Maxon, Indiana Wesleyan
Maxon won the 2018 Crossroads League Championship with a time of 25:55 to pace No. 5 Indiana Wesleyan to the team crown.
Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Sarah Harden, Taylor
Harden tied the course record, posted the third-best time in TU history and led the No. 2 Trojans to the Crossroads League Championship with a first-place time of 17:55.
Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Gabriel Greenfield, Huntington
Greenfield picked up seven total saves and allowed just two goals in Huntington’s upset win over third-seeded Bethel and semifinal win over IWU in the CL Tournament.
Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Matheus Louzada, Huntington
Louzada had a part in four-of-five goals for HU in its CL Tournament victories over Bethel and IWU, scoring once in a 2-1 upset of BC and striking for one goal and two assists in a 3-1 win over the Wildcats.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Bethany Balcer, Spring Arbor
Balcer pushed the No. 3 Cougars into the CL Tournament Championship match with three goals and two assists in SAU’s wins over Bethel and RV Taylor in the opening two rounds.
Volleyball Attacker of the Week
Megan Graber, Indiana Wesleyan
Graber paced the Wildcats in their CL Tournament Quarterfinals sweep of Spring Arbor by drilling 12 kills in only 20 swings for a blistering hitting percentage of .550.