NEW ORLEANS – Texas State senior forward Mady Soumare and Troy junior goalkeeper Taylor Richards notched Sun Belt Conference Women’s Soccer Player of the Week honors following the season’s third week of league matches.
Soumare earns Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week recognition for the second time in her career and first since the final week of the 2024 season. Richards collects her second Defensive Player of the Week nod in the last three weeks after receiving the honor on September 16.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Mady Soumare, Texas State
(Sr. | F | Paris, France)
Soumare played a part in both of Texas State's goals in the team's 2-1 victory over Georgia State (9/27), finishing the match with one goal and one assist. Her assist came on the Bobcats' tying goal in the 58th minute before delivering the game-winning tally late in the 87th minute off a rebound by Alexis Montgomery's header that deflected off the left post. Soumare has recorded a goal or an assist in each of the Bobcats’ last three matches.
Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Taylor Richards, Troy
(Jr. | GK | Plano, Texas)
Richards recorded her Sun Belt-leading fourth shutout of the season in Troy's scoreless draw against James Madison (9/26). The junior matched a career-high with nine saves in the shutout against the Dukes and the second most saves in a shutout by any Sun Belt goalkeeper this season. Richards now leads the conference in saves (46) and save percentage (.868) while ranking second in goals against average (0.70).
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
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