USL News Release
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
TAMPA, Fla. – Alyssa Whitehead knows a thing or two about receiving awards. The 2010 W-League Goalkeeper of the Year for the Charlotte Lady Eagles has spent her college career between the posts for Samford and this week she was named the Southern Conference Player of the Week. Whitehead posted shutout victories for the Bulldogs against Davidson and Georgia Southern this past weekend to earn conference honors.
Fellow goalkeeper Stephanie Panozzo collected Big 10 honors once more, being named the Co-Defensive Player of the Week for Illinois. The former Vancouver Whitecaps keeper made seven saves this past weekend in wins against Nebraska and Northwestern. New Jersey Ranger Maya Hayes also earned Big 10 honors again after being named Offensive Player of the Week. The Penn State attacker scored four goals in two wins against Michigan and Michigan State.
Memphis’ Christabel Oduro collected the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week award again for her efforts. The former Toronto and Hamilton player scored three goals this past weekend as the Tigers clinched the conference title. Memphis teammate and Ottawa Fury defender Elizabeth Simonin took home Defensive Player of the Week as she led the backline to shutouts against Southern Miss and UCF.
In the Pac 12, former Vancouver Whitecap Chelsea Buckland earned her second Player of the Week award this season for Oregon State. Buckland scored twice, including the game-winner against Washington State.
Former Bradenton Academic and current Duke standout Laura Weinberg was named ACC Player of the Week after she scored two goals last weekend in wins against Wake Forest and Maryland.
Dayton’s Juliana Libertin earned Atlantic 10 Co-Player of the Week honors after she scored a hat trick this past weekend against Temple. Libertin, a former Cleveland International, also added an assist in the win.
Stephanie Gilkenson, a former Boston Renegade, scored two goals, including one in the win which clinched the America East Conference title for New Hampshire, to take home Co-Player of the Week honors.
Belmont’s Nicole Berner was named the Atlantic Sun Conference’s Defensive Player of the Week after the former New Jersey Ranger saved eight shots and didn’t allow a goal in two matches.
Former New York Magic goalkeeper Sandita McDermott was the Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Week after her heroics in net for Bucknell. McDermott posted a clean sheet win against Lehigh and then stopped nine shots in an overtime win against Lafayette.
St. Francis goalkeeper Briana Butcher was named the Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Week. The former Western Mass Lady Pioneer keeper posted two shutouts to up her conference-leading total to eight for the season.
Bridgett Miller scored two game-winning goals this weekend against Portland and Gonzaga for Santa Clara. The former Ventura County Fusion forward’s efforts led to West Coast Conference Player of the Week honors.
Cat Walker, another former Fusion player, was named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week after she scored two game-winning goals on the road to lead San Diego State to victories against Wyoming and Air Force.
Miller, Walker, Weinberg, Hayes, and Simonin were all named to Soccer America’s Women’s Team of the Week, with Hayes being selected as Player of the Week.