Indiana Freshman Layla Sirdah Scores Big with Double Big Ten Honors

Photo byJames Rush / The Indiana Daily Student

The Indiana Hoosiers women's soccer team is off to a remarkable start, thanks in large part to freshman forward Layla Sirdah, who has been making headlines with her stellar performances on the field. In a recent announcement by the Big Ten Conference, Sirdah earned not one but two significant honors—Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week and Big Ten Freshman of the Week.

Sirdah's accolades come on the heels of a phenomenal showing against Lawrence University, where she netted four goals in Indiana's commanding 9-0 victory on Sunday. Her precision and poise were on full display, as it seemed every shot she took found its mark. Adding to her impressive week, Sirdah also scored a goal in the Hoosiers' match against the University of Evansville on September 5.

Reflecting on her performance, Sirdah credited her teammates for their support and the team's overall chemistry. "It's always a great thing to score and build that confidence," Sirdah shared postgame. "We have really good team chemistry and a really good team environment. I definitely couldn’t have done it without them."

With her four-goal performance, Sirdah tied the record set by Paige Webber on September 10, 2023, for the most goals scored in a single match. This remarkable feat also helped Indiana tie its highest number of goals and points in a single game since 1998.

Since joining the Hoosiers this season, Sirdah has quickly adapted to her role as an offensive powerhouse. As the team wrapped up non-conference play on Sunday, Sirdah emerged as a key player, finishing with 17 points, six goals, and five assists. These impressive stats place her second in points and goals and tied for first in assists within the Big Ten Conference, underscoring her impact and potential as a standout player.

The Hoosiers are set to kick off their Big Ten conference play against Ohio State at 7:30 p.m. this Thursday at Bill Armstrong Stadium. With Sirdah in top form, Indiana fans have much to look forward to as the season progresses.