Sturgess receives weekly national award from NAIA

The NAIA named William Woods junior goalie Rebecca Sturgess as the Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday afternoon.

Sturgess (Jefferson City High School) recorded a season-high 13 saves for the Owls in their 2-1 upset victory Oct. 10 against No. 5 Columbia College, which was previously unbeaten.

Sturgess then followed up that performance with her fifth shutout of the season, picking up three saves in a 5-0 win against Lyon College on Saturday to improve her season record to 8-4 in goal.

In 14 starts this season, Sturgess has made 58 saves and has allowed just 12 goals. She ranks 45th in the NAIA with a goals against per game average of 0.920.

On Monday, Sturgess was named the American Midwest Conference Defensive Player of the Week. She was one of 19 nominees for the NAIA weekly award.

William Woods (11-4-1, 8-1-1 AMC), which won 3-0 against Harris-Stowe State on Tuesday, hosts Freed-Hardeman on Saturday.