GSCU senior women’s soccer player Sarah Mason took home the honors for Zaxby’s Player of the Week for her performance during the week ending on Sept. 21. The Atlanta native contributed a goal and an assist in GCSU’s Peach Belt Conference 4-0 win against the Clayton State University Lakers, their first conference win of the season.
“Winning the Zaxby’s Player of the Week means a lot to me,” Mason said.. “This is my first time winning it, or much of anything at Georgia College, so it kinda makes all the work and dedication I have put into soccer worth it.”
Mason and her teammate Kate Phillips teamed up to drive the ball down the field to finally assist Sarah King to put the Bobcats up 2-0 over Clayton State University. Later, teammate Emily Agi assisted her, as Mason put the ball into the net for the fourth GCSU goal of the contest. Mason also walked away with a stat line that included three shots, all of which were on goal. At the time of her performance, Mason led the Bobcats in goals, assists and points.
Beginning with her assist on the performance, Mason had a positive outlook on the team-up that led to King scoring the goal.
“The assist, on the other hand, was a beautiful build-up and may be one of my favorite assists yet,” Mason said. “I got a great ball in from Kaisa and had Kate open to my left, and hit her a straight ball. After that, I thought I could probably get the ball back, so I ran forward, and Kate played me down the line, and I got the ball wide open. Then I looked up, and Sarah King was wide open, so I crossed it to her, and she had a beautiful finish to the bottom left corner. I was so excited when she scored because it completely shut down Clayton’s momentum.”
Mason has played over 2,400 minutes during her four-year career as a Bobcat, consistently being someone her team can rely on for assists, with 11 in her career. However, that does not mean she can not be relied on for scoring goals herself.
“I actually had no thoughts when I scored against Clayton State,” Mason said. “I kind of blacked out, and my muscle memory took over. I think I do my best when I don’t overthink.”
GCSU brought in nine freshmen for the 2025 season, and besides being a large part of the Bobcat offense this season, Mason has also stepped up to the leadership call as a senior.
“As a senior, one of only two left from the original freshman class, I have seen it all and have played almost any role you can think of on this team,” Mason said. “I’ve been the injured player, the bench player, the starter, the sub, and with all of that comes perspective. I know what the freshmen are going through, I know what it’s like to win on the road, and I know how hard being in season is. With that, I try to help the younger ones manage all of this.”
Since the contest against Clayton State University and receiving the Zaxby’s Player of the Week award, Mason still leads the Bobcats in goals, assists, and points; however, she also sits in seventh place in the Peach Belt Conference in the assist category.
GCSU women’s soccer will return with another conference contest against the Middle Georgia State University Knights on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at 5:30 p.m. in Cochran, Georgia, before returning to Milledgeville for a Senior Day presentation against the University of South Carolina-Aiken Pacers, where Mason and her fellow senior teammates will be commemorated on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 1 p.m.