The Sun Belt Conference announced its weekly player-of-the-week awards for the 2026 season, highlighting two standout performances from the conference’s mid‑week slate.
Olivia Lawrence’s Offensive Explosion
Olivia Lawrence, a first‑year midfielder for Coastal Carolina, powered the Chanticleers with two goals and an assist across two matches. Her decisive strikes came in a 2‑1 halftime victory over Florida and in a 2‑0 win against Central Michigan, underscoring her impact on the team’s early‑season surge.
Lucy Harrington’s Defensive Mastery
Defender Lucy Harrington, in her second year at Appalachian State, anchored a backline that posted two shutouts and remained unbeaten throughout the week. She contributed an assist on the opening goal of a 2‑0 road triumph over Gardner‑Webb and capped the performance with her first collegiate goal, earning her the Defensive Player of the Week honor.
The accolades mark historic milestones: Lawrence becomes the first Chanticleer named Offensive Player of the Week since Eleanor Ashton in October 2024, while Harrington is the first Mountaineer to receive Defensive Player of the Week since Kerry Eagleston in October 2023.
Conference Implications
Both programs look to build on this momentum as they navigate the latter half of the schedule. With conference rivals tightening the race, the early‑season form of Lawrence and Harrington could prove decisive in shaping playoff positioning and national perception.