Case Western Reserve University junior Ellie Palaian and senior Bradley Winter were named the University Athletic Association Defensive Athletes of the Week for women's and men's soccer, respectively, after their performances at Brandeis University and New York University over the weekend.
Palaian recorded a pair of shutouts over the weekend to set the program record for clean sheets in a season and lead the sixth-ranked Spartans to a pair of 2-0 wins. On Friday night against 19th-ranked Brandeis in Waltham, Massachusetts, she saved three shots in 90 minutes, with all three saves coming in the second half. On Sunday afternoon against 24th-ranked NYU, Palaian also saved three shots in the second half in a 2-0 victory in Newark, New Jersey. Her shutout of the Violets was her 11th this season, setting the single-season program record and breaking a tie with former Spartans Maggie Storti (2021) and Anna Kennedy (2011).
This season, Palaian has allowed just seven goals in 16 games for a goals against average of 0.44 and a save percentage of .841. This was her second career UAA Athlete of the Week honor, both of which have been awarded this season.
CWRU improved to 13-1-2 with the two wins and 3-1-1 in conference play. The Spartans return to Cleveland for their final regular-season home game, hosting top-ranked Emory at 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 1.
Winter recorded a pair of shutouts in University Athletic Association contests, helping the Spartans go undefeated on the road last weekend. Winter set the single-season program record with his ninth shutout of 2025, blanking fifth-ranked Brandeis in a 0-0 tie on Friday evening in Waltham, Massachusetts. He saved four shots in the draw, breaking a tie with himself (2023) and former Spartan Charlie Fink (2018) for the program record. On Sunday, Winter extended the record with his 10th shutout of the season, blanking NYU in a 1-0 victory in Newark, New Jersey.
This season, Winter has allowed six goals in 15 games and allowed one or fewer goals in 14 of the contests. His goals against average is 0.40, and save percentage stands at .829. This was his first UAA Athlete of the Week honor this season and the second of his career.
CWRU improved to 7-3-5 following the weekend with a 1-2-2 mark in UAA play. The Spartans return home for their final contest at DiSanto Field this season, hosting second-ranked Emory University on Saturday, November 1, at 11 a.m. Prior to the match, the team will honor its graduating players, including Winter, with Senior Day ceremonies.
The following CWRU Athletes have been named the UAA Athlete of the Week during the 2025-26 academic year:
Oct. 27: Ellie Palaian (Women's Soccer - Defense), Bradley Winter (Men's Soccer - Defense)
Oct. 13: Kalli Wall (Volleyball), Claire Kozma (Women's Swimming & Diving)
Sep. 22: Ellie Palaian (Women's Soccer - Defense), Jacob Slater (Men's Cross Country)
Sep. 8: Maggie Farra (Women's Soccer - Offense), Phillip Washington (Men's Soccer - Defense), Katie Wong (Women's Tennis)
Sep. 2: Jamie Goldfarb (Women's Soccer - Offense), Jacob Slater (Men's Cross Country)
