KANSAS — Kieley Aranda and Payton Kauffman, both of Friends University, have earned this week's KCAC Women's Soccer Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week honors, respectively, the conference office announced Monday. The two student-athletes were selected for their performances from Oct. 12-18 by a vote of conference sports information directors. All KCAC Player of the Week honors are presented by
Athletic Solutions.
Offensive Player of the Week
Kieley Aranda - Friends University
Sr. | F/MF | Haslet, Texas
Aranda put together one of the best weeks of her career this past week for the Friends University Falcons, scoring both goals in a 2-0 victory over Avila University in the Eagles' first conference setback on Wednesday (Oct. 14) and then two more scores to lead a 3-0 win over Bethel College Saturday evening (Oct. 17). Both goals were game-winning tallies for the Falcons, who have now won nine of their last ten matches. Aranda is tops on the Falcons with eight goals on the season and now ranks second in the KCAC with four game-winning scores.
| Game |
gp |
gs |
gpg |
a/g |
pts/g |
sh/g |
sh% |
sog/g |
sog% |
| Oct 14 vs. Avila (MO) W, 2-0 * |
1 |
1 |
2.00 |
.00 |
4.00 |
3.00 |
.667 |
3.00 |
1.000 |
| Oct 17 vs. Bethel (KS) W, 3-0 * |
1 |
1 |
2.00 |
.00 |
4.00 |
4.00 |
.500 |
2.00 |
.500 |
| Conference |
2 |
2 |
2.00 |
.00 |
4.00 |
3.50 |
.571 |
2.50 |
.714 |
| Overall |
2 |
2 |
2.00 |
.00 |
4.00 |
3.50 |
.571 |
2.50 |
.714 |
Defensive Player of the Week
Payton Kauffman - Friends University
Jr. | D | Fort Collins, Colo.
Kaufmann was the defensive facilitator for two clean-sheet victories for the Friends University Falcons this past week, including a 2-0 over Avila University that handed the Eagles their first conference loss of the season. The Eagles were not only undefeated in the KCAC but had scored 54 goals heading into the match before Kaufmann and the Falcon defense kept them off the scoreboard for the full 90 minutes. Kaufmann and the Falcons have won nine of their last ten matches, and are now tied for second in the KCAC with eight shutouts on the season.
2026 KCAC WOMEN'S SOCCER SEASON PREVIOUS WEEKLY HONOREES:
- Week 1 (Aug. 31): Jordyn Smith, McPherson (Offensive) | Bella Duckworth, Sterling (Defensive)
- Week 2 (Sept. 7): Frederikke Nielsen, Oklahoma Wesleyan (Offensive) | Leona Kraus, Oklahoma Wesleyan (Defensive)
- Week 3 (Sept. 14): Anahi Ibarra-Arevalo, Friends (Offensive) | Alayna Runck, Friends (Defensive)
- Week 4 (Sept. 22): Isabelle Simoneau, Oklahoma Wesleyan (Offensive) | Paige Putter, Friends (Defensive)
- Week 5 (Sept. 28): Frederikke Nielsen, Oklahoma Wesleyan (Offensive) | Neve Mulrooney, Tabor (Defensive)
- Week 6 (Oct. 6): Cali Lasater, Avila (Offensive) | Neve Mulrooney, Tabor (Defensive)
- Week 7 (Oct. 12): Brooklyn Velotta, Kansas Wesleyan (Offensive) | Elise Lofnertz, Oklahoma Wesleyan (Defensive)
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ABOUT THE KANSAS COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
The Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and sponsors 29 varsity sports. Founded in 1890, the KCAC is the second oldest intercollegiate athletic conference in the country. As the conference home to 14 member institutions, the KCAC emphasizes commitment, cooperation, high achievement, and working towards a common goal in the act of competition. To keep up with the latest conference news, follow the KCAC on Facebook, Twitter/X, and Instagram using the handle @kcacsports.
—KCAC—