Monday, August 24, 2009

MACON, Ga. – On Monday, Atlantic Sun Conference announced its first weekly women’s soccer awards of the 2009 campaign with Emily Longden of Lipscomb named the Player of the Week while Campbell’s Kaili Terry earned defensive accolades.  

In her first collegiate game Longden, an elementary education major from Jacksonville Fla., scored the lone goal in the Lady Bisons’ 1-0 home victory against Austin Peay. The win marked just their third season-opening win ever, and first under fourth-year head coach John Ireland. The last such victory came on the road at South Carolina State in 2004. The last time the Lady Bisons won their home opener occurred in 2002, with a 2-1 victory against Martin Methodist.

Terry, a native of  Carrollton, Texas, made her first collegiate start in the central defense and led Campbell to a 2-1 victory against Francis Marion, on Friday, for the Camels' first season-opening win since 2005. After starting her first two years as a forward for the Camels, the exercise science major shifted to the back line and helped marshall a unit that allowed only seven shots on the game -- and just two on goal. Terry, who played the full 90 minutes, and the Camel defense did not allow a shot on goal for the final 44:43 of the contest to protect the one-goal margin.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and 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
Stephanie Powers - FGCU (GK, Seffner, Fla. So., Major - Undeclered) - Powers held the UCF offense scoreless, recording three saves in the first half. It wasn’t until the 67th minute that UCF could get one by Powers. In the second half, Powers recorded five saves to set a career and FGCU single game record with eight saves. 

Olga Ekblom - Campbell (F, Stockholm, Sweden, So., Major- International Business) - Ekblom, a member of the 2008 A-Sun All-Freshman team, began her sophomore campaign in style when she scored the game-winning goal in Friday's 2-1 victory over Francis Marion to give Campbell its first win in a season opener since 2005. Three of her four shots were on target, including a 25th minute strike that proved to be the decisive goal. 

Jessie Kupstas - Mercer (D, Suwanee, Ga., So., Major - Biology) - Kupstas provided the insurance goal in Mercer's 2-0 victory over Jacksonville State on Aug. 21. Kupstas recorded three shots on net and led the way on defense for the Bears, who limited the Gamecocks to just five shots in the contest.

Jamie Loftis - Belmont (MF/F, Hermitage, Tenn., So. Major - Mathematics) - Sophomore Jamie Loftis notched the lone goal and game winner in Belmont's preseason exhibition match against Southern Indiana over the weekend.