Williamsburg, KY – After leading their teams to big wins in the AAC Tournament attacker Marisa Helsten and midfielder Nick Kava have been named the Pepsi Athletes of the Week, the athletic department announced Monday.
 
Marisa Helsten earned athlete of the week honors after helping lead UC to their first AAC Tournament title since 2018.  The senior notched six goals and seven points on the week.  Against Georgetown, Helsten netted a pair of first quarter goals to help Cumberlands jump out to a 7-3 lead.  The Caledonia, MI native followed that up with four goals and five points in the AAC Tournament title game against #4 Reinhardt.  Helsten netted the first two goals of the game and assisted the third as the Patriots took an early 5-0 lead.  She added a goal in the third quarter, and in overtime Helsten netted the game-winning goal with 35 seconds remaining to clinch the win. For her efforts, Helsten was named the AAC Tournament MVP.
 
Nick Kava earned athlete of the week honors after a record breaking performance.  The senior recorded a program best seven assists and 12 points in the AAC quarterfinal win over (RV) SCAD.  Kava set the tone for the Patriots offense with four assists and a goal in the first half to jump to a 9-1 lead.  The Hoschton, GA native followed that up dishing out three assists in the second, which tied Maalek Wilson for the program for assists in a game with 7.  Kava also netted five goals in the game to break the program's points record which was set by Phil Procida in 2016. 
 
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