Eastern Michigan Athletics
Christie Fransen Named MAC Defender of the Week
9/22/2026 2:01:00 PM | Soccer
Fransen helped EMU record two clean sheets while scoring one goal and adding one assist
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – Christie Fransen was named MAC Defensive Player of the Week for the Eastern Michigan University soccer team as the MAC revealed its weekly winners Tuesday, Sept. 22.
Fransen (Wooster, Ohio/Wooster/Bowling Green) helped the Eagles record a pair of clean sheets last week while contributing one goal and one assist en route to earned her first career Player of the Week honor.
Eastern shut out Bowling Green, Sept. 17, which entered the match 4-1-1, before blanking Central Michigan, Sept. 20, which entered averaging 1.50 goals per match. The shutout at Bowling Green marked EMU's fourth consecutive road clean sheet, the first time in program history the Eagles have held the home team scoreless in four straight road matches.
Fransen leads Eastern with three goals this season and scored the game-winning penalty kick in the 68th minute against Central Michigan before assisting on the Eagles' 80th-minute goal in the win.
Fransen joins Ella Holland (Dunwoody, Ga./Dunwoody/Samford) and Reese Carpenter (Terrace Park, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame/Creighton) as Eagles to be recognized in the MAC's weekly honors this year. More on Holland and Carpenter can be found here.
2026 MAC Women's Soccer Players of the Week
Week 1 (August 18): Meaghan Cochrane, Ohio (Offensive); Eva Blatz, Buffalo (Defensive); Lexie Thompson, Buffalo (Goalkeeper)
Week 2 (August 25): Ella Zoerhoof, Toledo (Offensive); Taylor Green, Bowling Green (Defensive); Payton O'Malley, Bowling Green (Goalkeeper)
Week 3 (September 1): Monica Curry, UMass (Offensive); Reese Carpenter, Eastern Michigan (Defensive); Ella Holland, Eastern Michigan (Goalkeeper)
Week 4 (September 8): Monica Curry, UMass (Offensive); Coltie Carson, Miami (Co-Defensive); Emme Butera, Bowling Green (Co-Defensive); Payton O'Malley, Bowling Green (Co-Goalkeeper); Leah Shaffer, Kent State (Co-Goalkeeper)
Week 5 (September 15): Caroline Dickson, UMass (Offensive); Libby Fisher, UMass (Defensive); Leah Nisenfield, UMass (Goalkeeper)
Week 6 (September 22): Rachel Wenzel, Akron (Offensive); Christie Fransen, Eastern Michigan (Defensive); Paige Dornheggen, Toledo (Goalkeeper)
Up Next
Eastern Michigan travels to the University at Buffalo for Sunday match, Sept. 27, at 1 p.m.
Follow Us
For the most up-to-date information on the Eagles, continue to visit EMUEagles.com. Fans can also follow the team on social media, including Twitter (@EMUSoccer) and Instagram (@EMUSoccer).
Fransen (Wooster, Ohio/Wooster/Bowling Green) helped the Eagles record a pair of clean sheets last week while contributing one goal and one assist en route to earned her first career Player of the Week honor.
Eastern shut out Bowling Green, Sept. 17, which entered the match 4-1-1, before blanking Central Michigan, Sept. 20, which entered averaging 1.50 goals per match. The shutout at Bowling Green marked EMU's fourth consecutive road clean sheet, the first time in program history the Eagles have held the home team scoreless in four straight road matches.
Fransen leads Eastern with three goals this season and scored the game-winning penalty kick in the 68th minute against Central Michigan before assisting on the Eagles' 80th-minute goal in the win.
Fransen joins Ella Holland (Dunwoody, Ga./Dunwoody/Samford) and Reese Carpenter (Terrace Park, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame/Creighton) as Eagles to be recognized in the MAC's weekly honors this year. More on Holland and Carpenter can be found here.
2026 MAC Women's Soccer Players of the Week
Week 1 (August 18): Meaghan Cochrane, Ohio (Offensive); Eva Blatz, Buffalo (Defensive); Lexie Thompson, Buffalo (Goalkeeper)
Week 2 (August 25): Ella Zoerhoof, Toledo (Offensive); Taylor Green, Bowling Green (Defensive); Payton O'Malley, Bowling Green (Goalkeeper)
Week 3 (September 1): Monica Curry, UMass (Offensive); Reese Carpenter, Eastern Michigan (Defensive); Ella Holland, Eastern Michigan (Goalkeeper)
Week 4 (September 8): Monica Curry, UMass (Offensive); Coltie Carson, Miami (Co-Defensive); Emme Butera, Bowling Green (Co-Defensive); Payton O'Malley, Bowling Green (Co-Goalkeeper); Leah Shaffer, Kent State (Co-Goalkeeper)
Week 5 (September 15): Caroline Dickson, UMass (Offensive); Libby Fisher, UMass (Defensive); Leah Nisenfield, UMass (Goalkeeper)
Week 6 (September 22): Rachel Wenzel, Akron (Offensive); Christie Fransen, Eastern Michigan (Defensive); Paige Dornheggen, Toledo (Goalkeeper)
Up Next
Eastern Michigan travels to the University at Buffalo for Sunday match, Sept. 27, at 1 p.m.
Follow Us
For the most up-to-date information on the Eagles, continue to visit EMUEagles.com. Fans can also follow the team on social media, including Twitter (@EMUSoccer) and Instagram (@EMUSoccer).
Players Mentioned
Saturday, August 22
Tuesday, April 21
Monday, December 01
Monday, December 01