NIU’s Thea Johnson was named the MAC Women’s Soccer Co-Player of the Week after a five-point performance in a pair of weekend victories, according to a news release.

Johnson, a senior mid-fielder, scored the game-winning goal in NIU’s 1-0 opening-match triumph over EIU on Friday. Two days later, Johnson scored the deciding goal and added an assist for a career-best three points in a 2-0 victory over Georgia Southern.

“We had a great weekend as a team and Thea stepped it up as a senior captain and leader,” said head coach Carrie Barker in the news release. “Thea had a big weekend and the conference recognized her for that. Her teammates see her effort every day in practice, so it was good for her to be honored by the league.”

With five points in the Huskies’ first two matches, Johnson is one goal shy of equaling her career high season total (six in 2006) and already surpassed her 2007 scoring total.

Johnson earned her first award and is the first Huskie Player of the Week since goalkeeper Lindsey Curnock claimed the honor on Oct. 22, 2007.