Oct. 6, 2010

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Mississippi Valley State (MVSU) junior Cassandra Russo has been tabbed this week's SWAC Player of the Week, while Erika Forbes (Arkansas-Pine Bluff) and Brittany Joseph (Alabama A&M) were recognized as Co-Defensive Players of the Week. Texas Southern's (TXSO) Erika Vasquez was named the SWAC Goalkeeper of the Week, the conference announced today.

Russo (M/D, 5-2, Jr., Oakville, Ontario) paced the Devilettes with two goals in a 7-0 conference win over Alcorn State last week. The win pushed Mississippi Valley State into first-place in the SWAC East.

Brittany Joseph

Forbes (D, 5-5, Jr., Whitby, Ontario) helped the Lady Lions to two consecutive shutouts last week. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (UAPB) defeated Jackson State (JSU) 1-0 and followed that with a 7-0 conference win over Southern (SU) on Oct. 3. Offensively, Forbes assisted on the game-winning goal over JSU and contributed two assists against SU.

Joseph (D, 5-6, Jr., Pasadena, Calif.) was a key member of the Bulldog defense that held Texas Southern to six shots (one on goal) on Oct. 1. Joseph also scored a goal against Prairie View A&M (PVAMU) on Oct. 3, helping Alabama A&M to a 2-0 week and a shutout win over the Panthers.

Vasquez (GK, 5-8, So. Katy, Texas) played all 270 minutes in the net in three games for Texas Southern.  She had 21 saves with a save percentage of .778, and stopped 11 shots against Alabama A&M as the Bulldogs got off 13 shots. 

Other Nominees:

•Jessica Smith (MF, Texas Southern) - Had two goals and two assists in three games for TXSO

•Carre Rodriguez (M, Alabama A&M) - Scored a goal vs. PVAMU and led the Bulldog offense last week

•Silvia Fuentes (F, Arkansas-Pine Bluff) - Recorded one goal and three assists in a 2-0 week for UAPB

•Claudia Martinez (MF, Prairie View A&M) - Scored a goal in a 1-1 week for Prairie View A&M

•Alexandria Neumann (D/M, Mississippi Valley State) - Helped the MVSU defense to a shutout win over Alcorn St.

•Saycha Mitchell (MF, Texas Southern) - Contributed two goals and three assists in three games last week

•Kesha Brown (D, Prairie View A&M) - Helped PVAMU to a shutout win over Alabama State

•Bre-Ann Laypoole (GK, Arkansas-Pine Bluff) - Made six saves and recorded two shutouts last week

•Linda Aboagye (GK, Alabama A&M) - Gave up one goal in two games and recorded 90 minutes per game

•Melissa Aguayo (GK, Prairie View A&M) - Posted seven saves and a shutout in two games last week