Baylor’s Aryanna Jimison and Texas Tech’s Taylor Zdrojewski shared Big 12 soccer’s weekly honors as the Red Raiders’ Mack Blackburn earned the league’s defensive award. UCF’s Genesis Perez Watson was named the Goalkeeper of the Week, with Kansas’ Becca Smith being named the Freshman of the Week to round out the week’s selections.
Jimison totaled six points last week as she registered two assists and two goals during contests against Iowa State and Colorado. The junior played a role in two of the Bears’ three goals by dishing out two assists. She then helped BU to victory on Sunday as she recorded her second career brace in the 2-1 win at home. In her first season with the Bears since transferring from Houston, she has a squad-leading five assists, while she is tied for the team lead in points with 13. This is her first weekly Big 12 selection.
Zdrojewski accounted for half of the goals scored by the Red Raiders last week. She was the third TTU goal scorer against Oklahoma State as the home team captured a 4-0 shutout. The junior then registered the third brace of her career as she tallied a goal in each half against Kansas in a 2-0 victory. Zdrojewski has amassed 10 goals in back-to-back seasons, a feat that only three players in the country have accomplished this season. This is her second honor this season.
Blackburn helped the Red Raiders earn two more shutouts, earning wins against OSU and KU. The TTU backline held their opponents last week to a combined six shots on goal in 10 shot attempts. Though playing a huge role on defense, she also tallied a goal and an assist last week. Blackburn, TTU’s all-time assist leader, currently has nine assists this year. This is her third Big 12 accolade for the 2025 campaign.
Perez Watson led all Big 12 goalkeepers last week with 12 saves while collecting two shutouts against Utah and K-State. The redshirt sophomore grabbed a season-high seven saves in the 2-0 win against the Utes before her five saves helped the Knights earn a point in the standings following a scoreless draw with the Wildcats. Perez Watson has made 12 appearances this season and ranks fifth in the league in goals-against average (.667) and save percentage (.837). This is her second career Big 12 honor, earning Freshman of the Week (Oct. 16) last season.
Smith was the leading scorer in the Dillon’s Sunflower Showdown as she posted a brace in KU’s 4-1 victory. Her two goals were the first of her career, coming off her first two collegiate shots. She played a season-high 31 minutes against K-State before recording 29 minutes of action against Texas Tech. Smith is the third Jayhawk to earn a Big 12 weekly award this season and is the second freshman to capture the league’s weekly honor for first-year players.
2025 Big 12 Soccer Players of the Week - Oct. 8
Offensive Player of the Week
Aryanna Jimison, Baylor, Midfielder, Jr.
Taylor Zdrojewski, Texas Tech, Forward, Jr.
Defensive Player of the Week
Macy Blackburn, Texas Tech, R-Sr.
Goalkeeper of the Week
Genesis Perez Watson, UCF, R-So.
Freshman of the Week
Becca Smith, Kansas, Forward