NEW ORLEANS – James Madison sophomore forward Ginny Lackey and Marshall senior defender Kajsa Ekstrom earned Sun Belt Conference Women’s Soccer Player of the Week honors following the season’s fifth week of league matches.
Lackey earns the third Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week nod of her career and first since receiving the award in consecutive weeks (Sept. 24 & Oct. 1) during the 2023 season. Ekstrom becomes the first member of the Thundering Herd to receive Defensive Player of the Week honors since Alexis Woldgemuth accomplished the feat twice in 2022.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Ginny Lackey, James Madison
(So. | F | Bolton, Manchester, England)
Lackey notched a hat-trick and scored all three goals for the Dukes in a 3-2 conference home win over Louisiana on Friday, October 10. It marked the first three-goal performance by a James Madison player since 2012, as her third goal came on a penalty kick in the 86th minute to break a 2-2 tie. Lackey recorded her third multi-goal effort of the season, as she became the third Sun Belt player this season to score at least three goals in one match.
Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Kajsa Ekstron, Marshall
(Sr. | D | Umea, Sweden)
Ekstrom played all 90 minutes at the center of the Herd’s back line and was instrumental in the team’s scoreless draw at South Alabama on Friday, October 10. Marshall held South Alabama scoreless for the first time on its home field this season. Ekstrom has not missed a second of game action this season, playing a complete 1,170 minutes in the Herd’s 13 matches this season.
2025 Sun Belt Women’s Soccer Offensive Players of the Week
Week 1 – Ellie Garrison, M, App State
Week 2 – Geovanna Souza, F, Marshall
Week 3 – Andrea Iljkic, F, South Alabama
Week 4 – Riley Mullen, M, Old Dominion
Week 5 – Aaliyah Faddoul, F, Georgia State
Week 6 – Skylar Blaise, F, ULM
Week 7 – Mady Soumare, F, Texas State
Week 8 – Skylar Blaise, F, ULM
Week 9 – Ginny Lackey, F, James Madison
2025 Sun Belt Women’s Soccer Defensive Players of the Week
Week 1 – Selma Rajakangas, D, James Madison
Week 2 – Ashlynn Kulha, D, Old Dominion
Week 3 – Jordan Yang, D, James Madison
Week 4 – Libby Holmes, D, ULM
Week 5 – Taylor Richards, GK, Troy
Week 6 – Brooklyn Escobar, GK, Texas State
Week 7 – Taylor Richards, GK, Troy
Week 8 – Gry Boe Thrysøe, M, Old Dominion
Week 9 – Kajsa Ekstrom, D, Marshall