Date Posted: 10/31/2005

Macon, Ga. – Jacksonville’s Akeem Priestley won his first A-Sun Offensive Player of the Week award while Aldo Balsano of Mercer and Jeff Smeraglinolo of Stetson shared the Defensive POTW honor as announced by the league office.

Priestley netted a clutch goal in overtime at Belmont to secure Jacksonville’s spot at the 2005 Atlantic Sun Championship. The freshman forward would go on to add his 10th goal of the season at Lipscomb. The Kingston, Jamaica native is one of five A-Sun players to score double figure goals this season while his arrival on campus has helped elevate JU as the highest scoring team in the conference. Priestley is majoring in Business Management.

Fittingly, Balsano and Smeraglinolo split Defensive Player of the Week accolades after locking horns for 110 minutes in a scoreless draw between Mercer and Stetson last week. Balsano grabbed a season-high 11 saves and improved his record to 4-2-2 on the season. The Miami, Fla., native has yet to declare a major. Smeraglinolo notched his league-leading fifth shutout in the draw. The Rockledge, Fla., native is a Business major.

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
· Eric Susewind, Belmont (Jr. – MF/D – Houston, Texas – Business Administration Major) Assisted on both goals in Belmont’s 2-1 win over UNF which clinched a postseason berth for the Bruins
· Gerritt de Boer, Jacksonville (Jr. - GK – Yulee, Fla. – Geography Major) Recorded six saves in win at Belmont that sealed JU’s bid to the A-Sun Championship