SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Samford senior
forward Kaley Blanton has been named the Southern Conference’s women’s soccer
player of the week for all matches Sept. 3-9. The award is selected by the league
office.
Blanton
scored three of Samford’s four goals on the week, leading the Bulldogs to a 2-0
record and the title of the Courtyard by Marriott Louisville Airport Cardinal
Classic hosted by the University of Louisville. She also earned a spot on the
all-tournament team.
In
Friday’s 1-0 win over Toledo, the Mandeville, La., native came off the bench to
score the golden goal 108th minute to give Samford the dramatic,
double-overtime win.
Blanton
earned the start against Kentucky two days later and followed up her late-game
heroics with two goals the 3-1 victory over the Wildcats, giving her the
game-winners in back-to-back contests. Her first strike came just 1:14 into the
match against UK, and she made it a 2-0 spread with another score in the 17th
minute.
Her
three goals came on just six shots on the week.
With
the wins, Samford ran its current winning streak to three consecutive games to
even its record at 3-3.
The
award is the second of Blanton’s career, as she also took the honor on Sept. 7,
2010.
After
playing five of its first six matches on the road, Samford returns home to host
Kennesaw State on Friday at 7 p.m. Central time.
Also
nominated: Mariana Garcia (The Citadel), Simi Dhaliwal (Elon), Rachel Locke
(Davidson), Stephanie DeVita (Furman), Courtney Collins (Georgia Southern), Ashley
Stokes (UNCG), Lauren Thomas (Chattanooga), Katie Weigel (Western Carolina) and
Annika Jansson (Wofford).
2012 SoCon
Women’s Soccer Players of the Week
Aug. 21 Jamie
Simmons, UNCG
Aug. 28 Chesney
White, UNCG
Sept. 4 Katie
Merson, Georgia Southern
Sept. 11 Kaley
Blanton, Samford
-www.SoConSports.com-