Hays, Imamovic named A-R-C Players of the Week

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- To cap off an exciting week for Simpson soccer, freshman Maddie Hays and junior Alan Imamovic have been named American Rivers Conference Players of the Week.

Hays helped Simpson to a third-straight 2-0 week highlighted by the Storm's first postseason victory since 2011. The Erie, Colo. native went 2-2 in penalty kicks against Central in the A-R-C Tournament last Saturday, scoring the equalizer in the 82nd minute before lifting the Storm to a win in overtime. In the Storm's regular season finale against Nebraska Wesleyan, Hays and company earned their seventh shutout of the year.

Imamovic played a pivotal role in the Storm men earning their highest tournament seeding since 2001. In a 4-0 win over Nebraska Wesleyan, Imamovic provided the assist on Simpson's game-winner and played all but the final two minutes to help the Storm close the regular season with their third shutout in a row. The Urbandale, Iowa product leads the team with 1383 minutes played and has been dominant on defense all season.

Simpson now has eight A-R-C Player of the Week recipients this fall with six of those coming between the two soccer programs. Along with Hays, Abby Cozzoni, Hailey Kowzan and Cassie Nash each earned the honor for the women's team while Jordy Triana-Vasquez joins Imamovic as the two recipients from the men's squad. Madeline Streicher (women's golf) and Spencer Moon (men's cross country) earned the title in their respective sports as well.

Both teams are set to compete in the A-R-C Semifinals taking place on Nov. 3. The men's team will host No. 3-seed Loras inside Buxton Stadium for a 3 p.m. showdown and the women will travel to Waverly to face Wartburg, the No. 2 seed, at 5 p.m.