GROVE CITY, Pa. -- The Presidents' Athletic Conference honored two Grove City College soccer players Monday with weekly recognition after their respective performance last week. On the men's side, senior forward Ryan Merrick (Cranberry Township, Pa./Eden Christian) earned Offensive Player of the Week while freshman defender Taylor Leary (Warren, N.J./Timothy Christian) is the women's soccer Newcomer of the Week.

Merrick had three goals and an assist in Grove City's three matches last week. He opened the week with two goals last Tuesday in an 8-0 victory at Thiel. After recording an assist Thursday against Wooster in a non-conference clash, Merrick scored the game-winner in the 89th minute Saturday on Senior Day as Grove City edged visiting Waynesburg, 2-1.

The two conference wins helped keep Grove City atop the conference standings. Merrick currently ranks second on the squad with six goals, two assists and 14 points. The six goals are a career high for Merrick, who scored five goals in 2025.

Leary started all three matches at defender for the Wolverines, who went 2-1 in that span. She helped Grove City hold Thiel to no shots on goal last Tuesday in a 4-0 conference victory. Leary then assisted Kiara White's game-winner in the 47th minute Saturday afternoon, as Grove City edged visiting Waynesburg 2-1 in a rematch of last year's conference tournament title game.

Leary has started all nine matches for Grove City (6-1-2, 3-0-1). 

The women's soccer team will visit Saint Francis at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Wednesday, the men's soccer team (6-1-3, 4-0) heads to Saint Francis for a 4 p.m. match