Clarke University’s Cruz, Central Methodist’s Riesenbeck Earn Final Heart POTW of 2022

In the final installment of the Heart of America Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Player of the Week awards of 2022, two former winners this season captured the awards.

2022 Heart Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Year, Laura Riesenbeck was named the Heart Defensive Player of the Week and 2022 Heart First Team All-Conference recipient, Clarke University's Genevieve Cruz is the Heart Offensive Player of the Week.

Cruz helped the No. 5 seeded Pride defeat No. 4 Benedictine on the road in the 2022 Heart Women's Soccer Conference Tournament Quarterfinals last week, as the senior scored a goal and had an assist.

This is the third Heart Player of the Week award for Cruz in 2022. The other two came on October 17 and October 3.

The match was tied, 2-2, at the end over double overtime and was sent to penalty kicks. Cruz was successful on her penalty kick and the Pride advanced, 4-3, over BC. They will face No. 1 CMU on Tuesday afternoon in the Heart Semifinals.

Riesenbeck and the Eagels narrowly defeated No. 8 Park in the Heart Quarterfinals last Saturday and ended the Heart regular season on October 31 with a 6-0 win over Mount Mercy. The senior defender anchored the defensive back line in both victories and recorded the assist on the game-winning goal in the win over Park in the Heart Quarterfinals.

Riesenbeck also won this award back on October 3.