Lindsay Thorstenson (South Carolina/Marietta, Ga.) and Kevin Noschang (Indiana/Cincinnati, Ohio) played key roles in their teams’ success during the opening weekend of Division I play.

Thorstenson shut out reigning national champion North Carolina on the road, a feat that hadn’t been accomplished since 2002, to give South Carolina an impressive season-opening victory that propelled it into this week’s NSCAA/adidas national rankings at No. 22. Noschang posted two goals, the first helping Indiana secure a tie with No. 9 Maryland and the second to give the Hoosiers a 1-0 upset of No. 2 UCLA.

Each week, a male and female player will be selected by a committee from a nomination pool comprised of players of the week from each NCAA Division I soccer conference. The players will be announced each Wednesday afternoon from now until Nov. 1 through NSCAA.com, the official website of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. They also will be recognized at halftime of the NSCAA College Game of the Week on Fox Soccer Channel, a schedule of 20 men’s and women’s intercollegiate matches which begin on Thursday, Sept. 6, when No. 15 Penn State travels to No. 17 Connecticut for a women’s match that will kick off at 8 p.m. ET.


Lindsay Thorstenson
GK, Sr., South Carolina, Marietta, Ga.
Thorstenson played 90 minutes in goal and recorded five saves to lead South Carolina in a 1-0 victory over defending national champion North Carolina. Thorstenson became the first goalkeeper to shutout the Tar Heels since a 0-0 tie on September 10, 2004, ­ a span of 57 games ­ and the first time they were shutout in a home regular-season game since a 0-0 tie on October 27, 2002. Thorstenson came up big in holding 2006 MAC Hermann Trophy finalist Yael Averbuch and second-team NSCAA/adidas All-America Tobin Heath scoreless on four combined shots, including one from seven yards out by Averbuch. Thorstenson started the first 45 minutes against East Tennessee State and recorded one save on one attempted Buccaneer shot.

Kevin Noschang
F, Jr., Indiana University, Cincinnati, Ohio
Noschang posted one goal in each game against No. 9 Maryland and No. 2 UCLA. His goal against the Terrapins on Friday gave the Hoosiers a 1-0 lead as Indiana eventually settled for a 1-1 tie. On Sunday, the junior netted the game-winner in the 75th minute to give his squad the upset victory over the Bruins. For his efforts, Noschang was named to the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic All-Tournament Team.

 

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