September 27, 2011

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – UNCG forward Kristin Player was named the Southern Conference Women's Soccer Player of the Week for games Sept. 19-26 after a career-best game against Chattanooga over the weekend, the league office announced Tuesday.

Player scored a career-high seven points on two goals and three assists as UNCG remained perfect all-time in SoCon openers with a 6-1 win over the Mocs on Saturday. The win improved UNCG to 15-0-0 in league openers since joining the SoCon in 1997.

Samford snapped UNCG's 16-match regular-season winning streak in league play with a 1-0 win Monday.

A redshirt senior from Placentia, Calif., Player had a hand in each of UNCG's first five goals against Chattanooga, notching an assist on Karin Sendel's goal in the first just two minutes and scoring what would prove to be the game-winner in the 25th minute. She then assisted on a pair of Ashlee Wilhelmsen goals, which came just 3:05 apart shortly before halftime, and capped her big day with another goal less than 10 minutes into the second frame. Player narrowly missed her first career hat trick, sending a shot just wide later in the half.

Player matched her career high for single-game assists and goals, notching her second career three-assist day and fifth career two-goal game. 

The big day made Player the SoCon's active leader in career points (72) and assists (20). She also moved into UNCG's career top 10 in goals (tied for seventh with 26) and assists (tied for eighth). Player was already in UNCG's top 10 for career points but moved into sole possession of eighth.

The award is the second of Player's career and first since Sept. 4, 2007.

The Spartans (2-7, 1-1 SoCon) return to action Friday at Georgia Southern at 4 p.m.

- UNCG -