Samford goalkeeper has recorded three straight shutouts in the prestigious summer league

CHARLOTTE, N.C. --- Samford’s Alyssa Whitehead, who is competing this summer for the Charlotte Lady Eagles in the United Soccer League, was officially named the league’s Player of the Week Friday after earning three straight shutouts against Northern Virginia (twice) and Atlanta.

In the trio of games, Whitehead helped lead the Lady Eagles to a decisive victory against the Atlanta Silverbacks, 2-0, and a pair of wins versus the Northern Virginia Majestics, 5-0 and 1-0. Whitehead has started in eight games for the Lady Eagles this season and has already compiled five shutouts. He has only allowed two goals.

Whitehead, the Bulldogs’ 6-foot-3 native of Hattiesburg, Miss., will be a junior at Samford in the fall. Last season, she helped lead the Bulldogs to a school-record 12-1-5 overall record and a semifinal appearance in the 2009 Southern Conference Tournament.

Additionally, Whitehead earned Third-Team National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Southeast Region honors last season and finished the campaign ranked first in the nation in goals-against average (0.31) and third in the nation in save percentage (0.91). She only allowed a total of six goals on 169 shots faced and received First-Team All-SoCon accolades.

Whitehead also played a major role in the Bulldogs’ defense that finished the season ranked first in the nation in both goals-against average (0.31) and save percentage (0.92).

The Samford University soccer team will begin play in its 2010 campaign on Aug. 12 at 7 p.m., as the Bulldogs square off against the Belmont Bruins in an exhibition contest to be held at Bulldog Field.