GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Addy Hess (South Riding, Va.) claims her second Southeastern Conference Freshman Soccer Player of the Week after scoring the game-winning goal in Florida’s 2-1 victory over No. 12 Mississippi State. She shares this week’s honor with Georgia’s Mya Townes.
This marks the fourth SEC weekly award for the Gators this season and the third time a Florida player has earned Freshman of the Week. Hess previously received the honor in early September, while Kai Tsakiris earned it on Sept. 29. Additionally, Paloma Peña was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week on September 22.
Other weekly SEC winners for Oct. 13 include:
Offensive: Melina Rebimbas | Alabama
Defensive: Caroline Duffy | Oklahoma
Quick Look at the Performance of Addy Hess:
* Hess took the cross from Lena Bailey and took a right-footed shot that was blocked by MSU goalkeeper and deflected back into play. Hess then took her left foot to put in the game-winning goal vs No. 12 Mississippi State in the 50th minute.<https://x.com/NCAASoccer/status/1976818498430210090>
* The goal was Hess’ fourth, which moves her into a tie with fellow freshman Kai Tsakiris for first among 2025 Gator goal scorers. Florida is the only league school that its top three scorers are all freshman.
* It was the Gators first win versus a top-12 team since the 3-1 win over then No. 12 Texas A&M on Oct. 6, 2019
* Last Friday, Hess (No. 48) and Tsakiris (No. 63) both appeared on TopDrawerSoccer.com Midseason Top 100 Freshman list<https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer-articles/womens-midseason-top-100-freshmen_aid55176>
Florida faces a league-high five SEC teams that currently appear in the United Soccer Coaches top-25. The Gators are unbeaten in their last three top-25 matches – then No. 15 South Carolina (0-0 tie), at then No. 17 Georgia (2-2 tie) and No. 12 Mississippi State (2-1 win).
Next Up:
The Gators face another ranked league opponent Thursday at No. 4 Tennessee (11-1-2, 5-1-1 SEC). The Lady Vols own league wins over Missouri (2-0), LSU (2-1), Texas A&M (1-0), then No. 17 Georgia (2-0), Mississippi (4-1). Tennessee opened SEC play with a 3-2 loss at Mississippi State. Tennessee and Oklahoma played to a scoreless tie Friday in Norman, Okla.
at No. 4 Tennessee (11-1-2, 5-1-1 SEC)
Date: Thursday, Oct. 16
Time/Site: 7 p.m. ET at Regal Soccer Stadium<https://utsports.com/facilities/regal-soccer-stadium/16>
Stream: SEC Network +<https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/59b4d374-8270-4049-9b45-7d1253d27301>
Stats<https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=597379&vislive=fla>
Admission: Free
