Monday, August 28, 2006

MACON, Ga. – A pair of first time honorees receive Atlantic Sun Women’s Soccer Player of the Week accolades after Belmont’s Kari Lennon and Gardner-Webb’s Sarah Wyszynski led their teams to 2-0-0 records out of the gate. Lennon piled up four goals as Belmont opened with consecutive victories for just the second time in school history and first time ever at home to earn A-Sun Player of the Week honors.

The junior dominated the Bruins’ match with Birmingham-Southern, scoring back-to-back goals over a nine-minute stretch just prior to halftime. Lennon finished the Panthers off with a second half goal, giving her the first hat trick of the year in the A-Sun. The Hoover, Ala., native added a goal versus Tennessee-Martin in her 2006 debut and is one of just two players to record multiple goals in the opening weekend. Lennon majors in Accounting.

Wyszynski made a huge splash in her debut as Gardner-Webb’s starting goalkeeper. The sophomore registered a pair of shutouts to lead the Bulldogs to an undefeated start to the 2006 campaign. For the second straight year, Gardner-Webb opens with a pair of shutout victories. The Wilbraham, Mass., native turned away four shots in the opener versus Winthrop and returned to make five saves in the whitewashing of Francis Marion. Wyszynski has yet to determine a major.

The Atlantic Sun Conference hands out offensive and defensive Player of the Week awards weekly during the 2006 soccer campaign.

The 12-member league headquartered in Macon, Ga., consists of Belmont, Campbell, ETSU, Gardner-Webb, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, Mercer, UNF and Stetson with Florida Gulf Coast and USC Upstate beginning competition in 2007-08.

OTHER TOP PERFORMERS

• Jessica Eriksen, UNF (Sr. – D – Sebastian, Fla. – Physical Therapy Major)
Anchored the center defense for UNF as the Ospreys open 2-0-0, surrendering just one goal

• Michelle Kmiotek, Jacksonville (Sr. – GK – Tampa, Fla. – Physical Education Major)
Notched a career-best 12 saves give JU an upset opportunity in 1-0 loss at No. 18 Georgia

• Maylee Attin-Johnson, Kennesaw State (So. – MF – Port-of-Spain, Trinidad & Tobago. – Sports Management Major)
Picked up a goal and assist in debut at KSU