Date Posted: 10/8/2007

MACON, Ga. – Preseason favorite Kennesaw State traveled to Jacksonville, Fla. to face two opponents that had opened Atlantic Sun play 2-0 in what was going to be one of its most challenging weekends in conference play. Behind Annie Phillips, the Owls left Florida 4-0 and tied atop the A-Sun with Belmont. Phillips scored all three goals in Kennesaw State’s two wins (two against UNF, one against Jacksonville). For her efforts, Phillips was named the offensive Player of the Week on Monday by the conference office.

Against UNF, she scored the game’s only two goals, both in the first half. On the first, she slipped her shot under the UNF keeper and on the second, she scored on a breakaway. On Sunday, in a matchup billed as Kennesaw State’s Caitlin Dingle vs Jacksonville’s Keri Zwikker, the Atlantic Sun’s top two scorers, it was Phillips that was the offensive star in the Owls’ 1-0 victory. She scored late in the first half for her ninth goal, passing Dingle for the team lead and into second in the Atlantic Sun, two behind Zwikker.

Mercer faced the same two opponents as Kennesaw State. In two wins by the Bears, the defense helped pitch two shutouts. Leading the backline was freshman defender Kacie Hudson. She was part of an effort that held the Bears two opponents to only seven shots combined. Neither Jacksonville nor UNF found the back of the net against the Bears. Hudson was named the defensive Player of the Week on Monday by the conference office, the first such award for a Mercer women’s soccer player since September 2003.

On Friday, Mercer limited Jacksonville to just five shots, only two of which were on net. Jacksonville’s scoring star, Keri Zwikker, was held to one shot and it wasn’t on net. Two days later, Hudson helped lead Mercer’s stingy defense, holding UNF to a mere four shots, only two of which were on net.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is a 12-member league committed to Building Winners for Life, with a focus on academic and athletic integrity and a balance between the two for the student-athlete, and maintaining a high level of sportsmanship. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun encompasses six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun consists of some of the most dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Gardner-Webb 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

Bridget Gaughan, KSU (So. - D - Powder Springs, Ga. - Nursing) -- Led the Owls to three straight shutouts; has helped KSU defense not allow a goal in the last 282:39.

Kirsi Keenan, FGGU (Fr. - GK - Boca Raton, Fla - Undeclared) -- Recorded second consecutive shutout and third in four games; Added two wins, and recorded 5 saves; Totaled 180 minutes of shutout soccer.

Amber McCall, FGCU (So. - MF - Fort Myers, Fla. - Undeclared) -- With a goal and an assist, McCall helped led the FGCU women's soccer team to a 2-0 victory against Gardner-Webb Saturday afternoon.

Sarah Stock, STET (Sr. - F - Deltona, Fla. - Biology) -- Scored a pair of goals in Stetson's 4-1 win over Campbell; added to her team lead with the 5th and 6th goals of the season leads the team with 12 points.

Related Links:
 • This Week in A-Sun Women's Soccer