NEW ORLEANS – James Madison freshman forward Ginny Lackey and Old Dominion sophomore defender Ashlynn Kulha earned Sun Belt Conference Women’s Soccer Player of the Week honors after providing impact performances during the second week of league matches.
 
Lackey repeats as Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week and becomes the first player to accomplish the feat since Brooke Shank of Georgia State in October 2019. The last freshman to receive the league’s top weekly offensive honor in consecutive weeks was Chardé Hannah of South Alabama in 2014.
 
A Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Team selection, Kulha garners Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week for the second time in her career and first since Aug. 29, 2023.
 
Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Ginny Lackey, James Madison
(Fr. | F | Manchester, England)

Lackey remained scorching hot on the attack, as she contributed to all three scores in the Dukes’ 3-1 road win at Coastal Carolina on Sept. 26 with one goal and two assists. Her goal in the 25th minute was JMU’s second of the match, and ultimately the game-winner, as she also assisted on goals in the ninth and 49th minutes in her four-point performance. On Sept. 29 against Old Dominion, she scored James Madison’s third goal of the first half in the 31st minute which also proved to be the deciding tally of a 3-2 win over the Monarchs. Lackey has now scored in four straight matches while racking up 14 points (six goals, two assists) in just five collegiate contests.
 
Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Ashlynn Kulha
(So. | D | Holly Springs, N.C.)

Kulha played every minute of Old Dominion’s two matches last week and helped marshal a back line that kept the highest scoring team in the Sun Belt out of the net on Sept. 26 in the Monarchs’ 1-0 home win over ULM. The sophomore helped limit the Warhawks to just four shots on the night. Kulha also made an impact at both ends of the pitch on Sept. 29 at James Madison where she scored on a header off a set piece in the 32nd minute.

2024 Sun Belt Women’s Soccer Offensive Players of the Week
Week 1 – Keelyn Peacock, M, Arkansas State
Week 2 – Sophia Verrecchia, M, James Madison
Week 3 – Ellie Garrison, M, App State
Week 4 – Irene Campo, M, South Alabama
Week 5 – Eleanor Ashton, F, Coastal Carolina
Week 6 – Ginny Lackey, F, James Madison
Week 7 – Ginny Lackey, F, James Madison
 
2024 Sun Belt Women’s Soccer Defensive Players of the Week
Week 1 – Damaris Deschaine, GK, Arkansas State
Week 2 – Emily Bredek, GK, Old Dominion
Week 3 – Vivienne Carr, GK, Coastal Carolina
Week 4 – Claire Casey, D, Georgia Southern
Week 5 – Sofia DeCerb, GK, James Madison
Week 6 – Jamie Swartz, D, James Madison
Week 7 – Ashlynn Kulha, D, Old Dominion