Houston’s Samira Minor headlines this week’s Big 12 soccer honors, earning Offensive Player and Freshman of the Week, while Kansas’ Caroline Castans was bestowed Defensive Player of the Week as K-State’s Maddie Sibbing captured Goalkeeper of the Week.

Minor posted a multi-goal performance as UH captured a 3-1 win over Cincinnati during its Conference opener to mark their most goals scored during a Big 12 game. She netted both of the Cougars’ second-half goals, going perfect in shot attempts (2) and was credited with her first game-winning goal. The freshman from Frisco, Texas, is the first Big 12 player to capture two awards in the same week since the 2021 season. Minor is the second Cougar to earn Big 12 weekly honors, as teammate Lexi Gonzalez captured the program’s first-ever accolade Sept. 10.

Castans’ game-winning goal in the 56^th minute led the Jayhawks to their first Conference opener win since 2020. The 1-0 victory against Oklahoma State marked KU’s first win in Stillwater in 21 years. The KU backline held the Cowgirls to only one shot on goal in the final 57 minutes despite being down a player due to a red card called on the Jayhawks. Castans was also named to TopDrawerSoccer’s Team of the Week. This is her second career Big 12 award after earning last season’s final defensive player honor.

Sibbing gathered five saves and didn’t concede a goal as K-State tied Colorado 0-0 in the Big 12 opener. The Buffaloes, a top-10 team in scoring offense nationally, were held to their second-fewest number of shots on goal this season (5). Sibbing, in her first year with the Wildcats, has tallied six shutouts this season to tie the program’s single-season record. In eight appearances, she has a .893 save percentage and a .375 goals-against average after only conceding three goals. This is the sophomore’s second award this season.
 
2025 Big 12 Soccer Players of the Week - Sept. 24

Offensive Player of the Week
Samira Minor, Houston, Forward, Fr.

Defensive Player of the Week
Caroline Castans, Kansas, Jr.

Goalkeeper of the Week
Maddie Sibbing, K-State, So.

Freshmen of the Week
Samira Minor, Houston, Forward