Monday, October 31, 2005

Macon, Ga. – Stetson’s Kelly Kuenning and April Eilering captured the final A-Sun Women’s Soccer Player of the Week honors as announced by the league office.

The duo helped Stetson seal an appearance in the 2005 Atlantic Sun Championship with a pair of crucial shutout victories in the final weekend of play to leap into the fray after a disappointing 0-6-0 start in league play. The Hatters will be the No. 6 seed at the upcoming tournament.

Kuenning scored both game-winning goals for the Hatters last week after entering their final two matches knowing a loss or tie would have left them short of qualifying for postseason play. At Mercer on Wednesday, the junior midfielder broke a scoreless tie with less than seven minutes remaining in overtime to lift the Hatters to a crucial 1-0 victory. And at home against Jacksonville on Friday, Kuenning's goal in the sixth minute proved all the offense Stetson would need in a 2-0 victory over the Dolphins. The Palm Harbor, Fla., native leads the Hatters with five goals and 11 points this season. Kuenning is majoring in Business Administration.

Eilering posted two shutouts for the Hatters last week and broke the school career shutout record. At Mercer on Wednesday, Eilering held the Bears scoreless for over 103 minutes in the Hatters' 1-0 overtime victory. Five of her seven saves came in the second half and overtime. And at home against Jacksonville on Friday, Eilering stopped all three Dolphins' shots on goal in a 2-0 win to earn her school-record 18th career shutout. Eilering has played every minute in goal for the Hatters this season and has a 1.50 GAA with five shutouts. She has not allowed a goal in over 250 minutes.

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
· Keri Zwikker, JU (Fr. - F – London, Ontario – Exercise Science Major)
Scored her conference leading 14th goal of the season versus UNF
· Amanda Murhpy, Campbell (Fr. – MF/F – Putnam Valley, N.Y. – Athletic Training Major)
Tallied game-tying goal in the 87th minute of Campbell’s 1-1 draw with Gardner-Webb that sealed the No. 2 seed