SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Western Carolina defender Shannon Burns has been named the Southern Conference women’s soccer player of the week for all competition Oct. 15-21. This is final weekly award of the 2018 season.

Despite entering the week winless on the road in conference play, Western Carolina went 2-0 with a 3-0 shutout at The Citadel and a 1-0 victory at Mercer. The native of Manasquan, New Jersey, scored her first career goal, netting a penalty kick in the win over the Bulldogs. Burns anchored a strong backline that weathered 17 shots by the home team. At Mercer, Burns and the defense faced 16 shots and recorded another shutout. The Catamounts, who have not allowed a goal by an opponent in the last 300-plus minutes of play en route to a three-game win streak, earned the No. 4 seed in the upcoming SoCon Championship with the wins.

Also nominated: Kessy Bradshaw (The Citadel), Isabella Gutierrez (Furman), Korrie Sauder (Samford) and Bailey Gale (Chattanooga).

2018 SoCon Women’s Soccer Players of the Week

Aug. 21       Aiyanah Tyler-Cooper, So., GK, UNCG
Aug. 28       Chloe Arnold, So., F, Chattanooga
Sept. 4       Ceci Keppeler, Sr., GK, VMI
Sept. 11      Nicole Souply, Fr., F, UNCG
Sept. 18      Abigail Zoeller, So., F, Mercer
Sept. 25      Sarah Connolly, So., F, ETSU
Oct. 2         Stephanie Westaway, So., GK, Samford
Oct. 9         Cienna Rideout, Jr., F, UNCG
Oct. 16       Eleonora Goldoni, Sr., F, ETSU
Oct. 23       Shannon Burns, Sr., D, WCU 

-www.SoConSports.com-