Sprecher and Kowalski Off To Fast Starts as NCAA Div. I Spring Season Begins

OAK BROOK, ILL. (Feb. 19, 2021) – After a long hiatus due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the college soccer season is back and kicked off earlier this month. Eclipse Select alumni are off to hot starts as Kylie Sprecher (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) y Amanda Kowalski (Arlington Heights, Ill.) have been named Big East Offensive and Defensive Players respectively in week one of the spring season.

Marquette forward Sprecher recorded a goal in a 5-0 win against Chicago State on Feb. 5. Kylie followed it up with a goal and an assist in a 3-2 win over Illinois State on Feb. 7. Elsewhere in the Big East, Butler defender Kowalski kicked off her season with a goal and assist in an 8-0 win against the University of Indianapolis on Feb. 9. In her very next match, provided an assist in a 9-2 victory over Marian (Ind.) on Feb. 17. As both Sprecher and Kowalski headlined the Big East Weekly Awards in week one, Butler goalkeeper Stephanie Rodriguez (Batavia, Ill.) recorded her first shutout of 2021 with two saves in the 8-0 win over Indianapolis. This performance earned her recognition on the Big East Weekly Honor Roll.

Freshmen Easter Illinois defender Brennan Rzewuski (Lombard, Ill.) and Dayton Flyer midfielder Mia Perri (Roselle, Ill.) have established themselves as key components to the starting eleven of their respected programs. Rzewuski has started both of the Panthers’ first two games. He has played all 200 minutes this season, which is tied with only one other player on the team. Perri has started both of the Flyers’ first two games as well. In those games, Dayton defeated Bellarmine 2-0 on Feb. 6 and topped Northern Kentucky in which Mia scored her first career goal in a 2-1 comeback victory.

University of Tennessee midfielder Isa Cook (Elmhurst, Ill.) tallied her first assist of the season in a 6-0 victory over Gardner-Webb on Feb. 14. Cook has started eight out of ten games so far this season as the Southeastern Conference had the ability to play conference games in the fall.