Nov. 9, 2011
College Soccer 360 Primetime Performers
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - University of Illinois senior midfielder Marissa Mykines was named the College Soccer 360 Primetime Player of the Week, as announced by the organization on Wednesday evening. Mykines earned the national player of the week laurel following the Spokane, Wash., native's strong showing throughout the 2011 Big Ten Tournament Championship, where Mykines scored the game-winner in the semifinals and assisted on Illinois' first goal of the championship contest.
In the semifinals against Michigan State on Wednesday, Nov. 4, Mykines made the Spartans' defense pay for leaving a small shooting window open at the top of the 18-yard box, firing an attempt into the lower-left corner during the first overtime period to send Illinois into the championship match with a 1-0 victory. Two days later, Mykines created Illinois' first goal by weaving through the Penn State defense to reach the endline, firing a cross through traffic to Julie Ewing. With Ewing recording the goal, Mykines reached 19 points on the year, the most for the Mead High School graduate in any individual season as an Illini.
College Soccer 360 compiles a weekly listing of the top performers throughout Division-I women's soccer, naming a player of the week in addition to a supporting cast of "primetime performers." Mykines, a Second Team All-Big Ten selection, is the only conference player to appear on the current weekly listing. Previously this season, classmate Jenna Carosio earned College Soccer Primetime Performer status on Oct. 18, after Illinois held four consecutive opponents scoreless, including Purdue, Michigan State, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
No. 16 Illinois (16-4-2) continues its season against the defending National Champions, Notre Dame, during NCAA Tournament First Round action. The Orange and Blue will host the Fighting Irish on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 1 p.m. CT at Illinois Soccer and Track Stadium.
