Monday, October 20, 2008

MACON, Ga. - Campbell and Jacksonville have separated from the pack in the Atlantic Sun picking up a pair of wins last week thanks in large part to the play of Richard Jata and Joey Sanchez. Jata won his fourth career Player of the Week by scoring three goals for the Camels while Sanchez allowed just one past him in two games to pick up his second Defensive Player of the Week the conference office announced on Monday.

Jata, the 2008 Preseason Player of the Year scored the game-winning goal in both contests last week for the Camels, who have registered six-consecutive wins, their longest win streak in 15 years. Jata tallied Campbell’s first and fourth goals in a 4-3 comeback win against Lipscomb on Thursday in a game in which the Camels trailed 3-1 with 30 minutes remaining. The Port Richey, Fla., native then scored the only goal in Saturday's win against Belmont. A week earlier, Jata also provided a 79th minute winner at Jacksonville on Oct. 11 to start his three-game streak of game-winning scores. Campbell owns a 15-0-1 record in games when Jata has scored for the Camels since he joined the team in 2006. His four goals in A-Sun play are tied for third-most in the league, while his three winners are tied for the most in A-Sun games this year.

Sanchez kept the Dolphins within three points of the pace-setting Camels as he recorded two wins in the net for Jacksonville last week. The senior from Houston, added five saves in the win at Stetson and made a key save that led to the game-winning goal in the first half. The business administration major recorded four saves in registering his fourth shutout of the season against FGCU. The Eagles entered the contest having scored a program-record seven goals on two days prior.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life, with a focus on academic and athletic integrity and a balance between the two for the student-athlete, and maintaining a high level of sportsmanship. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun encompasses six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun consists of some of the most dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

Other Top Performers

Miguel DaSilva, Lipscomb (So. - F - Lauderhill, Fla. - Management) -- DaSilva racked up four assists and one goal in the Bisons two A-Sun games, a 4-3 loss at Campbell and a 4-3 win at Mercer. He had an assist on each of the goals against Campbell.

Scott Harrison, FGCU (Fr. - MF - Cocoa, Fla. - Physical Therapy) -- Led FGCU to a 1-1 records last week. In the Eagles 7-1 win over UNF, in which the team scored a program record seven goals, Harrison scored a pair of goals and picked up a pair of assists.

Josh Lind, Lipscomb (Fr. - D - Coppell, Texas - Exercise Science) -- Scored both the tying and game-winning goals in 4-3 win at Mercer Sunday afternoon. They were his first two goals of the season.

Bolade Ogunmade, Mercer (Sr. - D - Glasgow, Scotland - Economics) -- Helped Mercer to a 0-1-1 record over the weekend by converting three goals in matches against Belmont and Lipscomb; Against the Bruins, Ogunmade headed the equalizer with two minutes left in regulation to force overtime.

Tony Taylor, Jacksonville (So. - F - Jacksonville, Fla. - Undeclared) -- Scored two goals and an assist during the week to help the Dolphins to a 2-0 record; Scored two goals, including the game-winning goal, in JU's 4-1 win at Stetson; Recorded the game-winning assist in JU's 2-0 win at FGCU on Sunday.

A-Sun Weekly Notes

Campbell’s 1-0 victory over Belmont last Saturday was CU’s sixth-straight triumph and marked the team’s longest winning streak since the 1993 squad won 10 consecutive games from Sept. 11 through Oct. 13. The school record for consecutive victories is 11, set three times during the NAIA era (1970, 1973 and 1974)… Josue Soto moved to the top of the A-Sun charts with his fourth, fifth and sixth assists of the season during CU’s 4-3 victory over Lipscomb on Thursday. The sophomore midfielder from Monterrey, Mexico became the first Camel to register three assists in a match since Pasi Kinturi turned the trick on Sept. 16, 1996 at Georgia State…Campbell keeper Aaron Johnson had to make only one save while recording his fourth shutout of the season and 16th of his career on Saturday vs. Belmont. Johnson moved into a tie for second place on Campbell’s career goalkeeping shutouts list with Joe Moreschi (1982-85)…The Camels, the host for the 2008 A-Sun Championship clinched their spot in the six-team field

The Lipscomb Bisons 4-3 win against Mercer is the seventh overall of the season, the highest victory total ever in a season for program in the NCAA era. Last season they won six games overall…The 30 goals so far this season shatters the old mark of 26 set in 2007. The 28 assists this season also breaks the old market of 23 set in 2005. The Bisons also already have 88 points, besting the old season record of 71 in 2005…Freshman Garret Pettis has 10 goals this season, tying him with Miguel DaSilva for most goals in the season by a Bisons player. DaSilva scored 10 last season.