Date Posted: 10/29/2007

MACON, Ga. – When Kennesaw State’s Annie Phillips meets Mercer’s Kacie Hudson on the pitch on Wednesday, it will not only highlight a meeting of the current offensive and defensive Players of the Week, but it will feature the league’s top two teams squaring off for the regular-season title. Phillips earned her second weekly award after she recorded a hat trick within a 12-minute span in the Owls’ 6-2 win against Gardner-Webb on Saturday. Hudson spearheaded strong defensive efforts for the Bears in shutout wins against Gardner-Webb and Campbell setting up the showdown on Wednesday at Bear Field.

Phillips, a senior from Savannah, Ga., won her second offensive Player of the Week award of the month following a scoring outburst against Gardner-Webb. The Owls and Runnin’ Bulldogs battled to a scoreless first half but Phillips opened up the scoring seven minutes in the second half beating GWU keeper, Sarah Wyszynski. Gardner-Webb would tie the game two minutes but after Caitlin Dingle gave the Owls the lead at 2-1. Phillips put the game out of reach with two breakaway goals 22 seconds apart to extend the lead to 4-1. The three goals lifted Phillips to second in the A-Sun with 15, one behind Jacksonville’s Keri Zwikker. Phillips accelerated her scoring in conference play, tallying 11 of her 15 goals in A-Sun matches, tops in the league.

Hudson, who won her previous defensive Player of the Week award the same week as Phillips won her earlier award, led the Bears’ defensive effort in shutout wins against Gardner-Webb and Campbell. Her play on the backline throughout the year helped the Bears put up one the stingiest defenses in the league. The Bears, along with three other A-Sun schools, own goals-against averages of less than one. In the Thursday match against Gardner-Webb, the freshman from Marietta, Ga., even found time to contribute on the offensive end. She recorded her fifth goal of the season, and fourth game-winner, early in the game when her blast from outside the 18-yard box glanced off Wyszynski’s hands.

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

Erica Carter, BEL (Fr. - F - Spring, Texas - Public Relations) -- Scored both goals in Belmont's win over UNF to tally her 6th and 7th of the season; Currently leads the team in goals (7) and points (17).

Micaela Crowley, BEL (Sr. - GK - Hoover, Ala. - Audio & Video Production) -- Notched two shutouts to help Bruins advance to A-Sun Tournament for the 1st time; became Belmont's leader in shutouts (16).

Rachel Van Horn, ETSU (Fr. - GK - Thousand Oaks, Calif. - Business Management) -- Recorded 2nd shutout of the season vs Florida Gulf Coast; Allowed two goals against Stetson, made eight saves.

Keri Zwikker, JU (Jr. - F - Woodstock, Ontario - Exercise Science) -- Scored two goals (including game-winner), assisted on other in Dolphins 3-2 win vs. Lipscomb to clinch spot in A-Sun Tournament.

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