NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In the opening week of Tennessee Sports Writers Association College Players of the Week, Belmont senior defender Alex Clayton and Memphis freshman midfielder Ai Kitagawa were named the first winners of the season.
Clayton, a West Virginia transfer from Wellington, New Zealand, scored four points in the Bruins’ 3-0 shutout victory over Ohio Valley Conference foe Southern Indiana. He scored the first goal of the contest in the 51st minute off a pass from Jimiyu Mark, then assisted on Brock Kiper’s goal at 53:03 and A.J. Chastonay’s tally at 72:37.
It was the third career goal for Clayton, who also helped the Belmont defense collect its second-straight shutout to open the 2024 campaign.
On the women’s side, Kitagawa – a true freshman from Itami City, Hyogo, Japan – scored both goals in the Tigers’ 2-1 victory at Ole Miss to collect her third goal of the season in as many games. That made Kitagawa the fastest player to score three goals in the Brooks Monaghan era (2000-present).
She scored her first goal of the match in the 51st minute unassisted, then took Ashley Henderson’s pass into the net at 58:26.
The awards will expand next week with football and volleyball starting competition this week.
2024-25 TSWA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Men’s Soccer
August 27 – Alex Clayton, Belmont
Women’s Soccer
August 27 – Ai Kitagawa, Memphis