Nov. 4, 2008

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The 2008 NAIA Women’s Soccer National Players of the Week have been released for the ninth time this season. Alyssa Lee of Trinity Christian (Ill.) University is honored as the NAIA Offensive Player of the Week while Liz Yanko of McKendree (Ill.) University is selected as the NAIA Defensive Player of the Week, for the week of Oct. 27-Nov. 2. These winners were chosen out of a pool of conference player of the week performers among 22 conferences, independents and unaffiliateds.

Lee, a 5-3 junior forward from Fort Wayne, Ind., helped No. 8 Trinity Christian continue its unbeaten season. Alyssa set the school record for points in a single match with 11 in the 12-0 win over St. Francis (Ill.). She recorded four goals and three assists, as both marks tied a school standard. In the week’s first match, a 3-2 win over St. Ambrose (Iowa), she only played 28 minutes as the team already had secured the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament’s No. 1 seed. On the season, Alyssa has recorded 11 goals and nine assists. TCU now stands 19-0 on the season and holds the best total in history for team goals (117) and assists (96).

Yanko, a 5-4 sophomore goalkeeper from St. Louis, Mo., shut-out the 23^rd-ranked team in the country and moved to 16-0-1 on the year with two wins last week. In the 1-0 win over No. 23 Lindenwood (Mo.), Liz finished with eight saves in 90 minutes. Then, she had one save in the 2-1 victory over Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.). In national statistics, she is 36^th in goals allowed per match (0.570).

The final Player of the Week announcement will be released on Tuesday, Nov. 11.

For national statistics, please click here.

Offensive Nominees:
Rebecca Rube, Cumberlands (Ky.); Linette Cuvillier, Texas at Brownsville; Kylie Yates, Sterling (Kan.); Nicole Trawick, Belhaven (Miss.); Katya Salguero, Northwood (Fla.); Helen Collins, Tennessee Wesleyan; Brittney Knies, Marian (Ind.); Hannah Young, Carroll (Mont.); Nicole Jagt, Faulkner (Ala.); Paige McDowell, Brescia (Ky.); Jessica Carlson, Hastings (Neb.); Malissa Gallogly, Lambuth (Tenn.); Shannon Walter, Martin Methodist (Tenn.); Caroline Dixon, Oklahoma City; Jessica Greaney, Aquinas (Mich.); Whitney Sinclair, Maine-Fort Kent; Beth Rayman, Illinois-Springfield; Sierra Patterson, Ohio Dominican; Ashley McDowell, Park (Mo.); Lindsey Merrett, Cal Baptist; Shea Miller, Concordia (Ore.); Nikki Boland, St. Ambrose (Iowa)

Defensive Nominees:

Sara Dibenedetto, Texas at Brownsville; Jenessa Loewen, Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio); Sara Klaren, Northwood (Fla.); Kellie Humbert, Tennessee Wesleyan; Allison Arth, Marian (Ind.); Katie Joseph, Carroll (Mont.); Kelli Beatty, Kansas Wesleyan; Carrie Revlett, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.); Jordan Morrison, William Carey (Miss.); Megan Kreifels, Hastings (Neb.); Brittany Tibbs, Oklahoma City; Kelsey Duley, Aquinas (Mich.); Amanda Tracy, Maine-Fort Kent; Tiffany Harris, Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.); Shea Brazill, Park (Mo.); Jessica Kuehlwien, Southern Oregon; Christie Latimer, Berry (Ga.); Emily Evanson, Cal Baptist; Krystina Schmitt, St. Ambrose (Iowa); Rebekah Niedermayer, Trinity International (Ill.)

2008 Composite Award Winners (Schedule):

WEEK 1:

Offense: Theresa Broad (Azusa Pacific (Calif.) University) – JR, F

Defense: Katie Rorabaugh (Azusa Pacific (Calif.) University) – JR, D

WEEK 2:

Offense: Nicole O’Donnell (Martin Methodist (Tenn.) College) – FR, F

Defense: Didi Jurman (Northwood (Fla.) University) – JR, GK

WEEK 3:

Offense: Jamie Achten (Lee (Tenn.) University) – FR, F

Defense: Leigha Terry (Lee (Tenn.) University) – JR, GK

WEEK 4:

Offense: Rachel Eguren (Southern Nazarene (Okla.) University) – SO, F

Defense: Megan Newland (Park (Mo.) University) – SR, GK

WEEK 5:

Offense: Caroline Dixon (Oklahoma City University) – FR, F

Defense: Jenessa Loewen (Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) University) – SO, GK

WEEK 6:

Offense: Bridget Brotherton (Azusa Pacific (Calif.) University) – SR, F

Defense: Mallory Phillips (Savannah College of Art & Design (Ga.)) – SR, D

WEEK 7:

Offense: Amy Lawson (Westmont (Calif.) College) – SR, F

Defense: Erica Brown (Southern Nazarene (Okla.) University) – JR, GK

WEEK 8:

Offense: Helena Melin (Northwood (Texas) University) – SO, F

Defense: Kristi Koudelka (Lee (Tenn.) University) – SO, GK

WEEK 9:

Offense: Alyssa Lee (Trinity Christian (Ill.) University) – JR, F

Defense: Liz Yanko (McKendree (Ill.) University) – SO, GK