Dallas, Texas - Defender Madeline Oliver has been awarded Conference USA's Defensive Player of the Week for the period ending September 13, league officials announced on Tuesday afternoon.

The FIU center back led a Panther defense that played its best week of the 2026 season, not allowing a goal or a single shot on goal, while allowing just 13 shot attempts in two matches played. Hailing from Manchester, England, Oliver marked 90 minutes played in both contests.

Oliver set the tone early in FIU's match at Stetson, scoring in just the 11th minute to give the Panthers the lead in their eventual 3-0 winning result. The goal marked the freshman's second of the season, and first game-winning goal of her career.

Against Jacksonville, the England native was a key piece of a defense that allowed just seven shots and zero shots on goal for the entirety of the Panthers' 1-0 victory over the Dolphins. The result marked the first time FIU women's soccer notch back-to-back shutout victories since their 2024 CUSA championship season.

Oliver is the second Panther to earn CUSA Player of the Week honors this season, with Maya Maxwell getting CUSA Offensive Player of the Week for the period ending August 30. The FIU defender is also the first Panther to win the league's Defensive Player of the Week since CUSA Defensive Player of the Year Reagan Bridges in 2024.

Up Next 

Women's soccer has a lengthy break before beginning CUSA-play at New Mexico State on Sunday, September 27 at 3 p.m. ET.

Baptist Health

The 2026 FIU men's and women's soccer season is presented by Baptist Health, the official sports medicine provider of FIU Athletics.

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