Oct. 25, 2011

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Samford soccer player Alyssa Whitehead was honored by the Southern Conference on Tuesday as she was named the SoCon Player of the Week, it was announced by the league office. The Bulldogs' senior goalkeeper from Hattiesburg, Miss., registered a pair of key shutouts against SoCon opponents Davidson 2-0 and Georgia Southern last week.

Whitehead earned her fifth and sixth shutouts of the 2011 season last week as she helped guide the Bulldogs to home victories against Davidson and Georgia Southern. On Sunday, Samford's 6-foot-3 senior from Hattiesburg, Miss., made three key stops in leading the Bulldogs to their first SoCon regular season title.

Whitehead faced 13 shots last week and improved her single-season record in saves to 93. With shutouts against Davidson and Georgia Southern, she increased her school-record total in the category to 32.

Other nominees for this week's prestigious SoCon honor were the following: Sam McVeigh (Appalachian State), Hope Atkinson (College of Charleston), Simi Dhaliwal (Elon), Rachel Shelnutt (Furman), Kristin Player (UNCG) and Becca Smith (Chattanooga).

Whitehead and the Samford University soccer team will next be in action Wednesday at 7 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs conclude their regular-season schedule with a home match versus the Chattanooga Lady Mocs at the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium.

2011 SoCon Soccer
Players of the Week

Aug. 23, Julia Singley, Davidson
Aug. 30, Hannah Stanifer, Furman
Sept. 6, Vanessa Aponte, The Citadel
Sept. 13, Becca Smith, Chattanooga and Emily Bougas, Wofford
Sept. 20, Bethany Houpt, Elon
Sept. 27, Kristin Player, UNCG
Oct. 4, Amy Kolowsky, Appalachian State
Oct. 11, Kristin Player, UNCG
Oct. 18, Becca Fisher, Davidson
Oct. 25, Alyssa Whitehead, Samford

SoCon Release - Oct. 25