The Saint Louis duo of Christie Cigno and Anny Lucier were selected as the Conference USA Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for the period ending Oct. 5. Cigno and Lucier helped the Billikens to road shutout wins at Drury (2-0) and Southwest Missouri State (1-0). Two non-conference tilts highlight the midweek schedule as USF hosts Jacksonville on Tuesday and Memphis entertains Tennessee-Martin on Wednesday. Conference play resumes this coming weekend with league-leading DePaul traveling to Charlotte and East Carolina, while second-place USF and third-place Saint Louis also take to the road.

Offensive
Christie Cigno, So., Midfielder
Saint Louis

Cigno helped lift Saint Louis to a 2-0 win at Drury with an assist, feeding Anny Schuch for the Billikens' insurance goal. Then against Southwest Missouri State, she scored the game-winning goal with the only score of the contest. Cigno leads the team in goals with five and is second on the team in points with 11.

Defensive
Anny Lucier, Sr., Back
Saint Louis

Lucier led the Billikens to their first shutouts on the road this season, helping hold their opponents to a combined seven shots on goal. She also added an assist in SLU's 2-0 victory at Drury, firing a 40-yard pass down on teammate Anny Schuch's goal. Lucier is an integral part of a Saint Louis defense which has registered eight shutouts this season, four shy of tying the school record of 12, set last season.

NEWS & NOTES

Fire Away – In Southern Miss’ 9-0 victory over Jackson State last Friday, the Golden Eagles set a Conference USA record for shots in a single match with 61. USM’s mark eclipses the previous one set by UAB in a 5-0 win over Tennessee Tech in 1996.

Shutting ‘Em Down – Saint Louis is 5-1 in its last six matches with all five of its victories coming via shutouts. In their wins, the Billikens have outscored the opposition 11-0. SLU has eight shutouts so far this season, four shy of tying the school mark of 12, set last season.

Tulane is 3-0 in its last three matches, all shutouts. The Green Wave has outscored its opponents 7-0 during that stretch.

Tough at Home – The Saint Louis defensive unit has been tough at home this season, not allowing a goal with a current single-season school record 465 consecutive shutout minutes at Hermann Stadium. The Billikens put that streak on the online when they entertain Louisville on Oct. 17.

On Pace – With its next victory this season, DePaul will match the program total for wins in a season with 10, which the Blue Demons set last season. Should DePaul collect its 10th win in its next match, it will have done so in 13th contests. Last season, the Blue Demons did not reach this plateau until their 18th match of the year.

Crandell On Hermann Watch List - Charlotte forward COURTNEY CRANDELL has been named to the 2003 Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Award First Watch List. The M.A.C.’s Hermann Trophy is college soccer’s version of the Heisman Trophy and represents the highest level of individual achievement in the sport.

Last season, the Des Moines, Iowa-native led the 49ers to a school record 16 wins and the 2002 Conference USA regular-season crown by scoring a league record 21 goals and 50 points. Crandell, who became the first player in conference women’s soccer history to claim both the league’s Player and Freshman of the Year awards for the same season in 2002 and this season’s league preseason player of the year.


C-USA HONOR ROLL

TASHA WAGNER - CINCINNATI
Wagner recorded two shots and one assist versus Oakland. She currently leads the Bearcats in both categories, posting four of each.

KRISTINA WILSON – CINCINNATI
Wilson scored her first goal of the year off a Tasha Wagner corner kick to help the Bearcats avoid the shutout against Oakland on Sunday.

ERIN WALTER – DE PAUL
Walter notched her first multi-goal game of her career on Sunday at Colorado College. The sophomore tied the match at 1-1 in the 27th minute before knocking in the game-winner at 52:41. She also led the team in shots in the 1-0 loss at Air Force on Friday. In that match, which DePaul lost 1-0 on an own goal, Walter tallied four shots.

LINDSEY DEASON – DE PAUL
Deason totaled 17 saves on the weekend in two road matches. Despite allowing an own goal on Friday at Air Force, she stopped a season-high nine shots. The junior followed that performance up with eight saves in the 2-1 win at Colorado College on Sunday. For the season, Deason has five shutouts with a goals against average of 0.65.

PENNY PERROTT – EAST CAROLINA
Perrott scored the game-winning goal against Elon in a 2-0 win on Sunday. It was her second goal of the season and she helped the Pirates improve to 6-4-2 on the season and 4-0-0 at home. Perrott also anchored the defensive unit that allowed one goal against No. 9 Wake Forest and recorded a shutout against Elon, its fifth of the season, last week. The Pirates defense did not allow a single shot versus Elon.

NIKKI HAWKINS - HOUSTON
Depite not registering any shots in Houston's loss to Rice over the weekend, Hawkins aided the offense in passing. She continues to lead the Cougars in every offensive category, including points (9), shots (27), shots on goal (12), goals (4) and assists (1).

EMILY ALLWARDT - HOUSTON
As a Cougar defender, Allwardt has registered five shots on the season, including one on goal. She is also the defense's mainstay on blocking and protecting the goal.

SARAH BRENNAN – SOUTHERN MISS
Brennan scored both goals in a 2-1 win Sunday against South Alabama and registered an assist in the Golden Eagles' 9-0 win over Jackson State Friday.

CONFERENCEUSA.COM
For all of the latest news on Conference USA men’s soccer as well as the league’s other 18 sports, please visit the league’s official website at www.conferenceusa.com.

C-USA WEB SITES
Charlotte www.charlotte49ers.com
Cincinnati www.ucbearcats.com
DePaul www.depaulbluedemons.com
East Carolina www.ecupirates.com
Houston www.uhcougars.com
Louisville www.uoflsports.com
Marquette www.gomarquette.com
Memphis www.gotigersgo.com
Saint Louis www.slubillikens.com
USF www.gousfbulls.com
Southern Miss www.southernmiss.com
TCU www.gofrogs.com
Tulane www.tulanegreenwave.com
UAB www.uabsports.com

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Each week, an offensive and defensive player of the week was selected by a vote of the league’s head coaches.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
S2 Meghan McCallion, So., F, ECU
Jessica Traver, Fr., F, TUL
S8 Carolyn Klopp, Sr., MF/F, MAR
Julianne Sitch, So., F, DPU
S15 Nikki Hawkins, Jr., MF, HOU
Lindsay Morris, Jr., F, TUL
S22 Julianne Sitch, So., MF/F, DPU
Jill Knottek, Sr., F, UAB
S29 Julianne Sitch, So., MF/F, DPU
O6 Christie Cigno, So., MF, SLU

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
S2 Leah Peterson, Fr., D, TUL
S8 Katie Bissen, Jr, GK, MAR
S15 Penny Perrott, Sr., D, ECU
S22 Kara Kornfeld, Jr., B, SLU
S29 Megan Morey, So., GK, TUL
O6 Anny Lucier, Sr., B, SLU

NATIONAL HONORS
In addition to the C-USA Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, league players are occasionally honored for their outstanding performances throughout the season by Soccer America and Soccer Buzz. Track those accolades here.

Soocer America Team of the Week
S23 Kara Kornfeld, B, SLU

Soccer Buzz Elite Team of the Week
S9 Julianne Sitch, MF/F, DPU
S23 Julianne Sitch, MF/F, DPU