Date Posted: 9/5/2005

Macon, Ga. - A pair of Atlantic Sun Conference newcomers captured women's soccer Player of the Week accolades as Erin Ashton of ETSU and Jessica Marek of Kennesaw State earned weekly honors as announced by the league office on September 6.

Marek was tabbed Defensive Player of the Week on the heels of consecutive shutouts at the 2005 UAB Nike Classic. The senior goalkeeper first blanked the host Blazers who managed to fire 11 shots at the Kennesaw State goal before posting four saves on the way to a 2-0 white-washing of another Conference USA foe Tulane on Sunday. Marek made five saves for the week and faced 25 shots as she recorded the first back-to-back shutouts of Division I programs in the Owls history to earn her first career A-Sun POTW award. The Huntsville, Ala., native is majoring in Fine Arts. Kennesaw State returns to action on Sunday when they face Big East opponent Pittsburgh in the A-Sun Match of the Week.

Ashton earned the Offensive Player of the Week nod after leading ETSU to its first win as a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference. The senior midfielder played a part in all three goals in the Buccaneers' first win of the season, a 3-2 decision over Alabama A&M. Ashton netted the team's first two scores before assisting on the game-winner with less than four minutes to play. The New Bern, N.C., native added an assist versus in-state rival Middle Tennessee earlier in the week. She currently leads the Lady Bucs with 26 goals and 18 assists in her career and is majoring in Biology with a focus on Pre-Med studies. ETSU will host Radford in their home opener on Friday night.

The Atlantic Sun Conference hands out offensive and defensive Player of the Week awards weekly during the 2005 women's 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.

Related Links:
 • Women's Soccer POTW