Women's Soccer Southern Conference

Furman's Couch Named Player of the Week

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Furman forward Carlie Couch has been named the Southern Conference women’s soccer player of the week for all competition Oct. 21-27. The selection is made by the league office.

Couch scored three goals and added an assist for seven points on the week as Furman went 2-0 to lock up its first SoCon regular-season title since 2003.

Against Georgia Southern on Friday, Couch headed home what would prove to be the game-winning goal in the 44th minute of the Paladins’ 2-0 victory.

Two days later, the Tifton, Ga., freshman had a hand in all three goals as Furman topped Davidson 3-1. Couch scored the Paladins’ first goal in just the sixth minute, then assisted on Stephanie DeVita’s eventual game-winner in the 29th minute. Couch scored her second unassisted goal of the day less than three minutes later and finished with five points on the day in just 33 minutes of action against the Wildcats.

The win, coupled with Elon’s tie against Samford, assured Furman of the regular-season SoCon title and top seed in the upcoming league tournament.

Couch leads the SoCon with nine goals and 23 points in league play, with 10 more points than the trio of players in second place in points.

The award is the first of Couch’s career. She is the third different Paladin to claim the honor this season, all of which have come in the last four weeks.

Furman (13-3-2, 7-1-1 SoCon) closes the regular season Wednesday when it hosts Wofford (8-3-5, 4-1-4) at 7 p.m. The Terriers, who have clinched a spot in the SoCon tournament for the first time since 2010, enter the match in a tie for fourth in the league standings and will be trying to secure first-round hosting duties for the first time since 1997. Wofford hosts the semifinals and final of the tournament on Nov. 8 and 10.

Also nominated: Samantha Childress (Appalachian State), Nicole Dennion (Elon), Nora El-Shami (Georgia Southern), Katie Durst (UNCG), Malcanisha Kelley (Samford), Markie-Lynn Studnicky (Western Carolina) and Kimberly Cohn (Wofford).


2013 Women’s Soccer Players of the Week
Aug. 27    Julia Holz, Appalachian State
Sept. 3    Mariana Garcia, The Citadel
Sept. 10    Jennifer Wittick, Georgia Southern
Sept. 17    Trine Taule, Samford
Sept. 24    Kate Murphy, Elon
Oct. 1    Molly Williams, Georgia Southern
Oct. 8    Stephanie DeVita, Furman
Oct. 15    Jamie Alexander, Furman
Oct. 22    Nicole Levermann, The Citadel
Oct. 29    Carlie Couch, Furman

-www.SoConSports.com-