CLINTON, S.C. – For the first time in Presbyterian College women's soccer history, all three Big South Conference weekly awards went to the Blue Hose following a 3-1 season-opening win at Alabama State just over 24 hours ago.

Sophomore transfer Maddie Smith was awarded the Big South Offensive Player of the Week, while rookie Sydney Stoner nabbed Defensive Player of the Week honors. Forward Katy Verdery completed the three-peat by being named the league's Freshman of the Week.

This is the first time since October of 2023 that any school from the Big South swept all three awards (High Point was the last to achieve this feat).

Since head coach Matt Smith took over the program two years ago, seven different PC players have been selected for a Big South weekly award. They outshot Alabama State 9-1 in the second half, keeping them undefeated in season-openers since his arrival.


 
STRONG FIRST IMPRESSION




 
- Maddie Smith, who came to Presbyterian from nearby USC Upstate, lined up a brace in her Blue Hose debut by scoring in the 16^th and 57^th minutes.

- The first goal tied things up after an early ASU score, while her second strike gave PC the lead that they would not relinquish.

- A native of Pennsylvania, Smith became the first newcomer in PC's Division I era (2007 onward) to score twice in the season-opener.

- Isabel Lasota (a 2025 graduate) was the last women's soccer athlete to take home Big South Offensive Player of the Week honors. Smith's first goal on Sunday was also the team's first shot attempt of the brand-new campaign.


 
SOLID AS A STONE




 
- Stoner, a South Carolina native who attended Chapin High School, played the full 90 minutes of the Alabama State victory (one of two non-keepers who were never subbed out).

- She and the rest of PC's defense did not allow any shots over the final 35 minutes of action, keeping the Hornets off the board entirely from the 5^th minute until the final horn.

- Presbyterian owned the second half in Montgomery, limiting Alabama State's time of possession significantly. Stoner played a huge hand in that preventative effort, becoming the first-ever PC freshman to win Big South Defensive Player of the Week.

- Kelly Hall was the most recent Blue Hose athlete to win this particular award in 2024.


 
V FOR VERDERY



 

- Yet another impressive debut performance came from Verdery off the bench, scoring her first goal at the collegiate level after spending her prep career in Richmond, Virginia.

- Katy landed two on-target shots in her 23-minute shift, responsible for the final goal of the match at the 74:06 stamp.

- She is the first Blue Hose freshman to score a goal in her debut since 2017, when two others managed the same feat in a triumph over Furman.

- Coach Smith has mentored a Big South Freshman of the Week in back-to-back seasons, following on from Febe Dombrecht's recognition last year.


 
LOOKING AHEAD

 
- Presby will make their 2026 home debut on Friday night, taking on old Division II rival Newberry at 7:00. ESPN+ will have live coverage of the contest.

- Following the match, PC will recognize four seniors who have all been with the program for their entire college careers: Emma Brown, Emilia Lieber, Lyla Chadd, and Lucy Cartin.

- The Blue Hose last met Newberry two decades ago, a 2006 encounter when Smith was starting out his coaching career as an assistant under former head coach Brian Purcell.