INDIANAPOLIS – Bellarmine University senior midfielder Emily Hollander and University of Wisconsin-Parkside sophomore defender Niekie Pellens have been named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week in women’s soccer, it was announced by the league office Monday.
 
Pellens played all 180 minutes over the weekend, helping the 13th-ranked Rangers post a pair of road shutouts in conference action. In the 2-0 win at Maryville on Friday, Pellens was part of a backline that yielded just three shots all game and only one on goal, while allowing just three shots on target in the squad’s 4-0 blanking of Missouri-St. Louis on Sunday. Additionally, Pellens made an impact on the offensive end against UMSL, earning an assist on the game-winner in the 12th minute while tallying another assist in the 56th minute, which marked her league-leading ninth of the year. The Naarden, Netherlands, native capped off the game with a goal in the 80th minute, her first score of the season.  The UW-Parkside defense has pitched shutouts in 10 of its 12 games this season en route to a 10-0-2 record and an 8-0-2 mark in GLVC action.  This is the first weekly honor for Pellens and the third for the Rangers this year.  Karley Mecko was honored as GLVC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 8, while teammate Emily Konior was recognized with the same honor on Sept. 22.