USI Women’s Soccer’s Ohlwein and Grafton earn OVC weekly honors
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Soccer sophomore midfielder Greta Ohlwein and junior defender Charli Grafton earned Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week honors on Tuesday. Ohlwein was named OVC Offensive Player of the Week and Grafton was named OVC Defensive Player of the Week.
Ohlwein picks up her first career OVC accolade while Grafton receives her third career OVC weekly laurel. The two helped USI to a 1-0-1 record last week. The Screaming Eagles notched their first shutout of the season last Thursday with a 0-0 draw at Austin Peay State University before tallying their first win on Sunday against Bellarmine University, 2-1.
Ohlwein helped USI to its win on Sunday with two goals in the second half against the Knights, propelling USI ahead after the Eagles trailed by one at halftime. The sophomore scored in the 57th minute with a one-timer into the top side of the net. The game-winning goal came two minutes later in the 59th minute when Ohlwein slotted the ball past the Bellarmine keeper. The two-goal performance put the midfielder in a tie for a team-best two goals this season and it marked the first multi-goal performance by a Screaming Eagle since August 2022.
Grafton helped USI to its best defensive week of the season, allowing one goal in two games. The junior played full time in each contest and led a defensive unit that held Austin Peay scoreless in heavy rain from the remnants of Hurricane Francine. Plus, Grafton was part of the defensive effort that held Austin Peay to zero first-half shots for the second consecutive meeting against the Governors. On Sunday, Grafton stopped and blocked multiple opportunities from Bellarmine’s attack. Grafton and USI’s defense kept the Knights to only a couple of chances down the stretch of the 2-1 victory.
On the season, Ohlwein is tied for a team-high two goals and four points, which ranks top 10 in the OVC. Ohlwein has started eight matches for USI. Grafton has started every match, playing a full 90 minutes in seven matches while anchoring the Screaming Eagles’ defensive unit.
