By: by Scott Lipsky
Player of the Week interview with Staci Pugh
MACON, Ga. – Kennesaw State Owls Alyssa Mahan and Staci Pugh both received conference accolades on Monday, as they earned the soccer season’s first Atlantic Sun Conference Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week awards, the A-Sun announced. The duo helped the Owls to a 2-0 start to the season.
Mahan, a junior midfielder, scored one goal apiece in each of the Black and Gold’s first two matches of the season last week. She scored her first during the Owls’ season-opener at College of Charleston, tying the game at one in the first half during the squad’s eventual, 4-3, victory. The Acworth, Ga., native would also score a goal and add an assist in the team’s 6-0 triumph over Alabama A&M, their first-ever official match in the brand-new, 8,300 seat KSU Soccer Stadium, on the way to her first career Player of the Week award.
“I’m really happy to be out there on the field helping the team,” Mahan said on Monday. “The coaches are giving me an opportunity to play more this year, so I’m really making sure that I take advantage of the time I’m getting. Hopefully this is just the beginning for myself and for our team, and that we’re ready to keep moving forward and have a great season.”
Pugh, a senior goalkeeper, is no stranger to A-Sun awards. The 2009 A-Sun Tournament MVP and 2006 All-Freshman Team selection has won three A-Sun Defensive Player of the Week awards prior to Monday. She earned her fourth recognition for her solid play in the Owls’ first two games of the season. She made eight saves on the road against College of Charleston on Friday evening in the team’s, 4-3 victory, including five acrobatic stops that prevented probable goals. In her one half of play against Alabama A&M on Sunday, she made two saves, including a diving grab that preserved a 1-0 lead at the time for the Black and Gold.
"This is a great honor, especially to win the first one, it sets the season off on the right foot," said Pugh. "The hard work that we all put in as a team against Charleston and Alabama A&M really paid off. Alyssa and I have worked really hard, and it's great to be recognized."
Head Coach Rob King was pleased to hear that his two players have been recognized by the conference for their strong play so early on in the season.
“I'm delighted that Alyssa and Staci were recognized this week, as they were both excellent during our opening weekend matches,” said King, whose teams have won two of the last three A-Sun regular season and tournament championships, and are picked to win both this season. “Alyssa has worked extremely hard during the off-season, raising her game to the level where she is now one of the first names on the team sheet each match. Staci has been fantastic, with great saves to preserve the win at College of Charleston and saves to keep the shut-out against Alabama A&M.”
The Owls take the field again on Friday, when they take on Richmond in the first of two matches at the Lady Vol Classic in Knoxville, Tenn.
