Sept. 9, 2008 – Three Truman student-athletes were honored as MIAA Players of the Week in their respective sports for their on-field efforts last week. Senior linebacker Jason Thier was named “Defensive Player of the Week” for football, while sophomore forward Riley Mahn received “Offensive Player of the Week” accolades for women’s soccer. Senior cross country runner Danna Kelly rounded out the trio, as her first-place finish at the Miner Invite gave her “Women’s Runner of the Week” honors.
Thier (Glendale, Ariz.; Deer Valley) had a career-high 14 tackles and scored on an interception return in the Bulldogs' 34-21 win over Southern Arkansas Saturday (Sept. 6).
He nearly doubled his previous best of eight stops, and five of his 14 tackles were solos. He recorded six tackles in the third quarter alone.
He also forced a fumble and picked off a pass which he returned 14 yards for Truman's first points. The forced fumble led to a field goal which put the Bulldogs up, 13-7, in the second quarter.
Mahn (St. Peters, Mo.; Francis Howell Central) had a part in both go-ahead goals as the Bulldogs posted two wins last weekend in Oklahoma.
She assisted on the first goal and added an insurance marker in the second half as the Bulldogs handed No. 9 Central Oklahoma a 2-0 setback Friday (Sept. 5). Her pass to Jessica Wiegert in the sixth minute led to a 1-0 lead -- Wiegert returned the favor in the 53rd minute.
Mahn had both of Truman's first-half goals in a 7-1 victory Sunday (Sept. 7) over Southwestern Oklahoma State -- she jumped on the Savage Storm for her first in just the fourth minute of play, and added another goal in the 13th minute.
Kelly (Boone, Iowa; Boone) led the Bulldogs in defending their title at the Missouri S&T Miner Invitational Saturday (Sept. 6).
She won the five-kilometer race in a time of 19 minutes, 26.8 seconds, edging out teammate Michelle Gronemeyer by less than four seconds and defending her individual title from 2007.
Truman had six runners finish in the top 11, as the Bulldogs bettered the five other squads in the meet.
This raises the number of Truman MIAA “Athletes of the Week” to five already through just two weeks of recognition, as senior volleyball libero Whitney Boehler and junior soccer goalkeeper Denise Childress were honored last week.