Monday, August 23, 2010

MACON, Ga. – Led by Alyssa Mahan and Staci Pugh, the preseason favorite Kennesaw State Owls opened the 2010 season with a come-from-behind win at College of Charleston and a rousing 6-0 win against Alabama A&M to christen the KSU Soccer Stadium. For their efforts, Mahan and Pugh won the season’s first Atlantic Sun Player of the Week and Defensive Player of the Week awards, the conference office announced on Monday.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Alyssa Mahan, Kennesaw State (MF - Jr. - Acworth, Ga. - Psychology)
• First A-Sun Player of the Week award
• Scored goals in each of the Owls' first two contests of the season - both of which were victories
• Goal against College of Charleston tied the game at one
• Scored the fourth goal in the Owl, 6-0 victory against Alabama A&M; added an assist
• Tied for the team lead with seven shots

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Staci Pugh, Kennesaw State (GK - Sr. - Fayetteville, Ga. - Health & Physical Education)
• Fourth A-Sun Defensive Player of the Week award
• Played all 90 minutes in 4-3 victory at College of Charleston - contributed with eight saves
• Made two saves, including one diving stop to prevent a goal in the Owls 6-0 victory againt Alabama A&M

OTHER NOMINEES:
• Rachel Collins (GK, USC Upstate) – tied school’s single-game record for saves, 14
• Liz Fink (MF, Jacksonville) – scored goals against Furman and Clemson
• Tessa Gavilsky (MF, Stetson) – game-winning goal vs FAU
• Emily Milone (MF, Mercer ) – first two goals of her career

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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.