Women's Soccer

PSAC Women's Soccer Athletes of the Week - 1

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference announced its first set of Women's Soccer Athletes of the Week for the 2025 season. From the Eastern Division, Kutztown's Caroline McDonald (Athlete of the Week) and Bloomsburg's Samantha Merklin (Defensive Athlete of the Week) earned the honors. In the West, a pair of Gannon Golden Knights were selected -- Jessie Watkins (Athlete) and Hannah Shepard (Defense.)
 
PSAC Eastern Division Athlete of the Week

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Caroline McDonald
Kutztown
Forward
Senior
Exton, Pa. / Downingtown East

McDonald had an explosive start to the 2025 regular season. In two games during the first week, she scored three goals, helping Kutztown to a 2-0 start to the year. McDonald wasted little time in making her mark on the new campaign as she recorded a hat trick in a 4-1 road  victory at Concord.
 


PSAC Eastern Division Defensive Athlete of the Week

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Samantha Merklin
Bloomsburg
Goalkeeper
Senior
Effort, Pa. / Pleasant Valley

Merklin led the Huskies defensively to a 2-0 week and start to the 2025 season, picking up victories over Queens (1-0) and West Virginia State (4-0). She finished with two clean sheets while recording 12 saves over the first week of action, including nine stops against a West Virginia State team receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches National Poll. She moved into 10th place in program history with 11 shutouts in just her 21st game with the Huskies and reached 100 career saves with Bloomsburg in the contest against the Yellow Jackets and helped the Huskies to their largest win in a home opener since a 4-0 victory over Davis & Elkins in 2011. 
 


PSAC Western Division Athlete of the Week

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Jessie Watkins
Gannon
Forward
Sophomore
Bowie, Md. / Bowie

Watkins, the reigning PSAC West Freshman of the Year, opened the 2025 season with goals in back-to-back matches for the No. 10 Gannon women’s soccer team. Watkins found the net in a season-opening 3–0 shutout at regional opponent Charleston (WV) and added another strike in a 5–1 win at Concord. She finished the week with two goals on five shots (.400), placing four on frame (.800), as the Golden Knights started the year 2–0.


PSAC Western Division Defensive Athlete of the Week

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Hannah Shepard
Gannon
Defender
Junior
Erie, Pa. / McDowell

Shepard anchored the back line for the No. 10 Gannon women’s soccer team, which posted a season-opening 3–0 shutout against regional opponent Charleston (WV) and allowed just one goal in two wins. Shephard played 163 of 180 minutes as the Golden Knights limited opponents to nine total shots, while also scoring in both matches, including the opening goal at Concord.