FRISCO – East Texas A&M University soccer defender Malaya Ring has been selected as the Southland Conference Defender of the Week on Tuesday afternoon.
 
Ring (Dana Point, Calif.) played 59 minutes in the Lions' 1-0 win over UTRGV last week, and recorded the assist on the match-winning goal, which was scored by Elaina Flores (McKinney – Boyd). The win over the Vaqueros keep the Lions alive for a SLC title going into the regular season finale.
 
This is the first weekly honor for Ring, a freshman transfer from Gardner-Webb, and third for the Lions this season. Additionally, goalkeeper Gillian McKenzie (Mesquite Horn) was named honorable mention goalkeeper of the week. She recorded six saves in the shutout over UTRGV.
 
East Texas A&M hosts HCU on Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. for Greek Night and Trunk and Treat night. The Lions can win a share of the SLC title with a win and a loss by Northwestern State. Tickets can be purchased at LionAthletics.com/tickets.
 
2025 SOUTHLAND SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Date	Offensive	Defensive	Goalkeeper
Aug. 19	Emily Senatore, Northwestern State	Alexia Murillo, HCU	Kennedy Rist, Northwestern State
Aug. 26	Cilia Leal, A&M-Corpus Christi	Abbie Bailey, UTRGV	Kennedy Rist, Northwestern State
Sept. 2	Emily Gundin, Northwestern State	Kate Bouck, Northwestern State	Veronica Pacione, East Texas A&M
Sept. 9	Emily Senatore, Northwestern State	Sydney Williams, SFA	Sierra McCluer, SFA
Sept. 16	Lauren Smith, Lamar	Ella Quinlan, SLU	Emmy McKeon, HCU
Sept. 23	Alana Lawless-Felarca, East Texas A&M	Bryn Geppert, SFA	Kennedy Rist, Northwestern State
Sept. 30	Alexi Pitt, McNeese	Bryn Geppert, SFA	Emmy McKeon, HCU
Oct. 7	Emily Senatore, Northwestern State & Isabella Burtini, UTRGV	Abbie Bailey, UTRGV	Emilia Compian, UTRGV
Oct. 14	Taylor Dodson, SFA	Katya Alexis, HCU	Celeste Marijnissen, McNeese
Oct. 21	Paige Baumgartner, Northwestern State	Jessica Spitzer, Northwestern State	Kennedy Rist, Northwestern State
Oct. 28	Lauren Smith, Lamar	Malaya Ring, East Texas A&M	Maddie Rich, Lamar