GREENVILLE, S.C. – For the third time this season, a Mid-America Christian women's soccer player swept both the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week and the Sooner Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week awards as Joanne Nakirya took home the honors on Monday after her record-setting performance last week.
In MACU's 10-2 win over Oklahoma Panhandle State at Wes Harmon Field in Bethany, Oklahoma on Friday, Nakirya tied MACU's single-match goal scoring record by netting five goals, four of which coming in the second half while her assist allowed her to record the second-highest single-match points total with 11.
The 5-5 forward from Kampala, Uganda is the second Evangels player to score five goals in a match this season, joining senior midfielder Liz Lozano who not only pushed across five, but also dished out a pair of assists in MACU's 10-1 win over Texas A&M-Texarkana on Sept. 26. Lozano and Nakirya currently share the program record along with current MACU teammate Sylvie Willie, who tied the mark last season in a win over OPSU as well as Kaci Power, who originally set the record in an 8-0 win over Texas College on Sept. 17, 2015.
Nakirya is not only tied for the team lead with 11 goals scored and ranks second on the squad with 25 points, but Nakirya currently ranks second in the NAIA in both goal scoring average (2.2) and points per game average (5.0).
The Evangels have amassed four SAC offensive honors this season with Lozano collecting the award in the second and fourth weeks while Kyleigh Gibson earned the honor in week five. MACU has earned five total with Brooklyn Fink also receiving the defensive award in week two.
Nakirya is also the third Evangel to garner NCCAA Offensive Player of the Week accolades in 2020, joining Lozano who received the first award on Oct. 12 and Gibson was selected as the honoree on Oct. 19.
Mid-America Christian will look to close out the 2020 portion of its split schedule on a high note, as the Evangels will compete at Southwestern Assemblies of God (Texas) for a noon kickoff on Friday, Nov. 13.
