Date Posted: 10/17/2005

Macon, Ga. – Campbell’s Sonny Guadarrama and Mercer’s Aldo Balsano each earned Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Week honors as announced by the league office after helping their sides clinch A-Sun Championship berths last weekend.

Balsano collected five saves in helping lead the Bears to two wins on the week and bolt to the top of the A-Sun standings. The Miami, Fla., native recorded the first shutout of his career in the 1-0 overtime win over North Florida on Thursday, then followed up with his second consecutive shutout in the 1-0 victory over Florida Atlantic. Both UNF and FAU were undefeated in conference play heading into the respective matches. With the two victories, Balsano improved his record to 3-2-0 on the season and lowered his goals against average to 2.51. The two shutouts equal season-highs recorded by both Martin Walker and Kerr McGowan in the 2004 campaign. The sophomore has yet to declare a major.

Guadarrama scored the game-winning goal in both Campbell victories last week as the Fighting Camels went 2-0 in their swing through Nashville and secured the program’s first berth in the A-Sun Championship tournament since 2000. On the year, the freshman has totaled 20 points on 8 goals and 4 assists. Five of his goals have been game-winners – vs. Marshall, #25 UNC Wilmington, Jacksonville, Belmont and Lipscomb. He also assisted on the winner vs. #23 Davidson on Sept. 13. The Cedar Park, Texas native ran his scoring streak to three-straight matches and has at least one goal or assist in eight of Campbell’s last nine outings. His 20 points are the most scored by a Campbell freshman since Peter Barany had 24 points (11G, 2A) in 1997. The freshman is majoring in Sport Management.

The Atlantic Sun Conference hands out offensive and defensive Player of the Week awards weekly during the 2005 soccer campaign.

The 11-member league headquartered in Macon, Ga., consists of Belmont, Campbell, ETSU, Florida Atlantic, Gardner-Webb, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, Mercer, North Florida and Stetson.

Other Top Performers
· Akeem Priesley (Fr. - F - Kingston, Jamaica - Business Administration Major)
Posted his third multi-goal match of the season with two goals at Stetson

· Aaron Johnson, Campbell (Fr. - GK - St. Charles, Mo. - Government/Pre-Law Major)
Lowered his A-Sun leading GAA to 0.96 after collecting two wins