Eastern Michigan Athletics
Holland, Fransen Earn MAC Player of the Week Honors
9/29/2026 2:00:00 PM | Soccer
Both received recognition for second time this season
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – Ella Holland and Christie Fransen were named MAC Players of the Week for the Eastern Michigan University soccer team as the MAC revealed its weekly winners Tuesday, Sept. 29.
Holland (Dunwoody, Ga./Dunwoody/Samford) earned her second MAC Goalkeeper of the Week honor this season and the fourth of her career while Fransen (Wooster, Ohio/Wooster/Bowling Green) was named MAC Defensive Player of the Week for the second-straight week.
Eastern secured its fourth consecutive clean sheet, its longest streak since 1999, in a 2-0 victory at Buffalo, Sept. 27. EMU recorded its fifth consecutive road shutout, extending its program-record streak. The Eagles have posted six shutouts through nine matches and have conceded just three goals this season.
Holland produced four saves en route to her 21st career shutout, which ranks third in program history and is just three away from equaling the EMU career record. The redshirt senior made an incredible leaping save off a Buffalo free kick, keeping the match scoreless at the time. Additionally, Holland's 0.33 goals-against average leads the MAC and is on pace to break Eastern Michigan's single-season record.
Fransen scored a second-half goal and also played a key role in the Eagles' game-winning goal, sending a deep cross into the box that was deflected to the feet of Tayla Maddock (Camlachie, Ontario/St. Patrick's Catholic High School), who netted the game-winning goal. In addition to her goal and key cross, Fransen anchored the Eastern Michigan backline, limiting Buffalo to six shots while helping the Eagles fend off four corner kicks. Fransen leads the team with four goals in 2026.
Reese Carpenter (Terrace Park, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame/Creighton) is the other Eagle that has earned MAC Player of the Week honors this season. More on Carpenter can be found here. Click here for more on Fransen's first honor.
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)
Week 7 (September 29): Simone Sharpless, Western Michigan (Offensive); Christie Fransen, Eastern Michigan (Defensive); Ella Holland, Eastern Michigan (Goalkeeper)
Up Next
Eastern Michigan travels to Ball State University for a 4 p.m. match Thursday, Oct. 1.
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).
Holland (Dunwoody, Ga./Dunwoody/Samford) earned her second MAC Goalkeeper of the Week honor this season and the fourth of her career while Fransen (Wooster, Ohio/Wooster/Bowling Green) was named MAC Defensive Player of the Week for the second-straight week.
Eastern secured its fourth consecutive clean sheet, its longest streak since 1999, in a 2-0 victory at Buffalo, Sept. 27. EMU recorded its fifth consecutive road shutout, extending its program-record streak. The Eagles have posted six shutouts through nine matches and have conceded just three goals this season.
Holland produced four saves en route to her 21st career shutout, which ranks third in program history and is just three away from equaling the EMU career record. The redshirt senior made an incredible leaping save off a Buffalo free kick, keeping the match scoreless at the time. Additionally, Holland's 0.33 goals-against average leads the MAC and is on pace to break Eastern Michigan's single-season record.
Ella Holland leaping save! 💪 pic.twitter.com/7NrHtK26Zc
— EMU Soccer (@EMUSoccer) September 27, 2026
Fransen scored a second-half goal and also played a key role in the Eagles' game-winning goal, sending a deep cross into the box that was deflected to the feet of Tayla Maddock (Camlachie, Ontario/St. Patrick's Catholic High School), who netted the game-winning goal. In addition to her goal and key cross, Fransen anchored the Eastern Michigan backline, limiting Buffalo to six shots while helping the Eagles fend off four corner kicks. Fransen leads the team with four goals in 2026.
Tayla Maddock puts us ahead‼️‼️ pic.twitter.com/o3rpdy9bbi
— EMU Soccer (@EMUSoccer) September 27, 2026
Reese Carpenter (Terrace Park, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame/Creighton) is the other Eagle that has earned MAC Player of the Week honors this season. More on Carpenter can be found here. Click here for more on Fransen's first honor.
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)
Week 7 (September 29): Simone Sharpless, Western Michigan (Offensive); Christie Fransen, Eastern Michigan (Defensive); Ella Holland, Eastern Michigan (Goalkeeper)
Up Next
Eastern Michigan travels to Ball State University for a 4 p.m. match Thursday, Oct. 1.
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, September 26
Saturday, September 26
Friday, September 25
Saturday, August 22