Women’s Soccer: Trio Pick Up Weekly Honors
September 22, 2008 04:36 PM | General
By Tim Goodenow for MSNsportsNET.com
September 22, 2008
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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Three West Virginia University women’s soccer players were honored this afternoon, including two by the BIG EAST Conference, for their play last week as the Mountaineers won their conference opener and defeated sixth-ranked Virginia.
Senior Greer Barnes was named the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week and redshirt freshman Erica Henderson was named BIG EAST Rookie of the Week. Junior Carolyn Blank earned a spot on the 11-player TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week.
Barnes is the third-straight WVU player to earn the conference’s weekly defensive honor. The Rye, N.Y., native helped the Mountaineers post consecutive shutouts in a 4-0 rout against Pitt on Sept. 18 and a 3-0 blanking of No. 6 Virginia on Sept. 21.
Barnes and the Mountaineer defense held their opponents to just five shots on-goal in the wins, including three from a powerful Virginia offense. It also was the first time Virginia, who entered the contest averaging 2.8 goal per game, had been shutout this season.
Henderson picks up her first career weekly honor after a two-goal effort against conference foe Pitt. The Rochester, N.Y., native scored twice in her first career start, including the game-winner at 7:31 against the Panthers. The forward logged back-to-back career-high minutes (Pitt - 74 and Virginia - 67) in scoring her first collegiate goals.
Blank is the second Mountaineer to be recognized by TopDrawerSoccer this season, joining senior Deana Everrett (Sept. 8). The Toms River, N.J., native was fantastic against both Pitt and Virginia, registering five shots and one assist. The defensive central midfielder dominated possession and won nearly every ball between the 18-yard-lines.
The Mountaineers return to action on Thursday, Sept. 25, at St. John’s in their first BIG EAST road contest of the season. Kickoff at Belson Stadium is schedule for 4:30 p.m.
