Shutout lifts Schneider to GPAC Defensive Player of the Week

MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University women's soccer team picked up its first win of the season in exciting fashion over Clarke University Sunday in Dubuque, Iowa.

The Tigers were stifled on offense for the first 100 minutes and were kept in the game by solid defense and strong goalkeeping from sophomore Cici Schneider, who made 12 saves. The Tiger defense allowed the team to stay in a 0-0 tie until freshman Gemini Wesley (Sioux Falls, S.D.) found the back of the net for DWU early in the second overtime period.

For her efforts against Clarke, Schneider was named the Great Plains Athletic Conference Defensive Player-of-the-Week, it was announced by the league Tuesday. The award is the first for Schneider and the first for DWU in 2015.

"It's amazing what one year can do for a player," DWU Head Coach Clayson Glasgow said about Schneider's improvement. "The mistakes from last year are not there this year. She has gained control over the back line. She worked extremely hard in practice and has embraced the competition."

Schneider, a Sioux Falls, S.D., native, is 1-1 this season with a 1.15 goals against average. She has made 28 saves in three games and has a .903 save percentage. She ranks 15^th in the NAIA in saves per game with 9.33 and 19^th in total saves with 28.

The Tigers continue nonconference play this weekend against Central Christian College at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Pepsi-Cola Soccer Complex in Mitchell, S.D.