BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – SIUE women's soccer sophomore Claire Nieroda has been selected as the Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week.

Nieroda, of O'Fallon, Illinois, led the Cougars to a 1-0-1 record in week one of the 2026 season. The Cougars defeated Alabama A&M 2-1 and tied Valparaiso 2-2 with Nieroda having a play in all four SIUE goals for the week.

She scored on a penalty kick to start the season scoring at Alabama A&M. Nieroda then provided assists on the next three goals – the game winner for Carson Bohnenstiehl at Alabama A&M, a second-half equalizer for Zeniyah Russell's first career goal and the game-tying goal for Bohnenstiehl with 10.1 seconds left against Valparaiso.

For the week, Nieroda scored one goal and three assists while taking a team-leading seven shots.

SIUE returns to action Thursday with a 7 p.m. contest at Korte Stadium against Austin Peay.