The excitement of Conference USA Women's Soccer intensifies as league teams enter the final full weekend of C-USA play. TCU and Marquette look maintain their holds on the top spot in the standings when the Horned Frogs travels to UAB and USF, while the Golden Eagles go to DePaul before hosting Saint Louis. In all, 13 key conference contests highlight this weekend's schedule as teams battle for the 2003 regular season crown and seeding in the conference tournament Nov. 5-8 in Charlotte. Read about this and more in the latest C-USA Women's Soccer Notebook.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Yuiko Konno, Jr., Forward
Memphis
Konno led the Tigers to a 2-0 mark at home last weekend as Memphis defeated Tulane (4-0) and Southern Miss (3-2 (OT)). Against the Green Wave, the Chiba, Japan native recorded her eighth goal of the season and notched her third assist of the year on the game-winning goal. In Sunday's match versus the Golden Eagles, Konno sparked the Tiger offense with a pair of goals, including her third game-winning goal of the season. She leads Memphis and is tied for second in C-USA with 10 goals.

DEFENSIVE
Katie Buchanan, Fr., Goalkeeper
TCU
Buchanan helped TCU to a first-place tie in the Conference USA standings by posting back-to-back 2-0 victories over Southern Miss and Tulane last weekend. She made two saves against the Golden Eagles and followed that performance with three stops versus the Green Wave. Buchanan has not allowed a goal in 184 minutes, dating back to the second half of the Houston game.



NEWS & NOTES

Shutout Streak Ends – Saint Louis had its single-season school record of consecutive shutout minutes at home end at 470 minutes. Louisville’s JAMIE CRAFT scored in the fifth of play to end the streak. Its the only goal that the Billikens have given up all season at home.

Working Overtime – East Carolina has played five double-overtime contests this season, the most in program history. Prior to this year, the Pirates had only played two double overtime games twice in a season (1999 and 2001). ECU’s four overtime matches aare also the most in a season for the Pirates surpassing the previous high of three, achieved in 1999 and 2001.

Moving Up The Charts – Saint Louis forward JAMIE PERRY became the program’s all-time leader for goals scored with 30. Perry notched her record setting goal when she scored the game-tying goal in SLU’s 2-1 win over Louisville on Sunday. She surpassed Trisha Underberg, who scored 28 goals during her Billiken career (1996-99). Perry also has 75 career points, three shy of tying the school record, jointly held by Jenny Kehl (1999-2002) and Underberg.

Charlotte forward COURTNEY CRANDELL has moved into fourth all-time in 49er history for goals scored. The Des Moines, Iowa native scored her sixth goal of the year and 27th of her career against Marquette on Friday, tying her with Meredith Mayo (1997-00) in the Charlotte record books.

DePaul forward JULIANNE SITCH leads the club with 26 points on 11 goals (six game-winners) and four assists. The point and goal totals are DePaul single-season records.

On Pace – DePaul’s 2-1 victory Louisville helped the Blue Demons tie a program record for wins in a season with 10, set last season. DePaul collect its 10th victory in 16 contests. In 2002, the Blue Demons did not reach this plateau until their 18th match of the year.

Shutting ‘Em Down – UAB is one shutout victory from tying the school record of eight, set during the Blazers inaugural campaign in 1996.

Fire Away – In Southern Miss’ 9-0 victory over Jackson State on Oct. 5, 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.

C-USA HONOR ROLL

TASHA WAGNER - CINCINNATI
Wagner helped Cincinnati snap a seven-match losing streak with her sixth goal of the season in the Bearcats' 1-0 win at DePaul. She finished off a KRISTINA WILSON cross with her sixth marker of the year in the match's 56th minute for the only score of the game.

RENEE BALCONI –CINCINATI
Balconi was an instrumental part of a Bearcat defense that surrendered just a penalty kick goal in two matches over the weekend. Balconi led UC to its first shutout of the season in a 1-0 win over DePaul and then held Saint Louis to only an early penalty kick goal in a 1-0 defeat.

JULIANNE SITCH – DE PAUL
Sitch scored the game winner in Sunday's 2-1 victory over Louisville while assisting DePaul's first goal by Amy Witt. In the Blue Demons’ 1-0 loss to Cincinnati on Friday, Sitch led the Blue Demons with four shots. For the season, the sophomore leads the club with 26 points on 11 goals (six game-winners) and four assists. The point and goal totals are DePaul single-season records.

NIKKI HAWKINS - HOUSTON
Hawkins had three shots in Houston's loss at USF. She continues to move up on Houston's all-time lists as she leads the Cougars in all offensive categories this season including shots (34), goals (5), shots on goal (14), game-winning goals (2), points (12) and assists (2).

SARAH FISHER - HOUSTON
Fisher registered three shots, including two on goal versus USF. She continues to be a force on Houston's defense this season.

BETH MCGILL – MARQUETTE
McGill scored a goal and an assist in Marquette's 3-2 come-from-behind overtime win over Charlotte on Friday. The goal was her team-leading third of the season.

LINDSAY SMALE – MARQUETTE
Smale paced Marquette to a shutout of East Carolina and a second-half shut down of Charlotte in weekend action. Smale helped the Golden Eagles limit the Pirates to seven shots (two on goal) in the team's eighth shutout of the season. Against the 49ers, Smale orchestrated the MU defense to allowing just eight shots on the night, four of which came in the second half and overtimes.

MARY SHELTON – MEMPHIS
Shelton anchored a Tiger defense that helped secure the team's first two league wins this season, including a 4-0 shutout of then league-leader Tulane. She played all 90 minutes in the Tulane match and all 98 minutes of the USM match. She also scored her first goal of the season.

JAMIE PERRY – SAINT LOUIS
Perry scored the game winner against Cincinnati on a PK in the 10th minute. She became the program's all-time leading goal scorer with the game-tying goal against Louisville. She leads the team with 20 points and 50 shots on the season.

TRESSA PECHER – SAINT LOUIS
Precher helped the Billikens to consecutive wins over Louisville and Cincinnati. She led the SLU defense that held the Cardinals to four shots, while Cincinnati managed just three shots on goal.

JENNY MULVIHILL – USF
Mulvihill scored both goals against Florida International in a 2-2 tie, and assisted on the game winner against Houston. She leads the team with 10 points on the year, four goals and two assists.

BRECK BANKESTER -USF
Bankester helped the Bulls to 1-0-1 o the week, including a shutout over Houston. On the year, she has recorded three shutouts, two in conference play.
She has a 1.16 goals against average and a .833 save percentage.

JESSI MOORE - TCU
Moore picked up two game-winning goals this weekend. Her two goals bring her season total to six and a tie for first on the team. She took 10 shots this weekend with five on goal. She has scored four goals in the last three games, helping the Frogs to victories in all three games.

TARA KIDWELL – UAB
Kidwell scored the game-winning goal against intra-state rival Birmingham-Southern on Sunday. She has moved into fourth place on UAB's all-time goal-scoring list with 22 career goals. She also reached the fourth-place position on UAB's all-time points list with 61. Kidwell currently leads the Blazers in goals (8), points (19) and shots (45) this season.

BRIANA MCCARTY - UAB
McCarty anchored the Blazers' defense in a critical 1-0 shutout victory over Conference USA foe Houston on Friday. She also led UAB's dominating defense in a 2-0 victory over cross-town rival Birmingham-Southern on Sunday. McCarty moved up from her defensive position to score the game-winning goal against Houston.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Each week, an offensive and defensive player of the week are 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
O13 Kim Miles, Jr., MF, CHA
O20 Yuiko Konno, Jr., F, MEM

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
O13 Katie Bissen, Jr., GK, MAR
O20 Katie Buchanan, Fr., GK, TCU


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
O15 Asia Simons, D, TUL

Soccer Buzz Elite Team of the Week
S9 Julianne Sitch, MF/F, DPU
S23 Julianne Sitch, MF/F, DPU
O6 Anny Lucier, D, SLU
O16 Asia Simons, D, TUL

NATIONAL POLLS
Here’s a look at the 2003 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), Soccer America, Soccer Times and Soccer Buzz Top 25 polls, as well as the NSCAA Regional Rankings.

NSCAA (Oct. 20)
1. North Carolina
2. Notre Dame
3. UCLA
4. Portland
5. Virginia
6. Florida
7. Colorado
8. West Virginia
9. Texas A&M
10. Santa Clara
11. Duke
12. Penn State
13. Pepperdine
14. Connecticut
15. Illinois
16. Tennessee
16. Wake Forest
18. Washington
19. Boston College
20. Utah
21. Ohio State
22. Nebraska
23. Auburn
24. Princeton
25. Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo

Soccer America (Oct. 20)
1. North Carolina
2. Notre Dame
3. Portland
4. UCLA
5. Penn State
6. Virginia
7. West Virginia
8. Santa Clara
9. Duke
10. Colorado
11. Pepperdine
12. Florida
13. Texas A&M
14. Florida State
15. Tennessee
16. Utah
17. Stanford
18. Wake Forest
19. USC
20. BYU
21. Connecticut
22. Washington
23. Texas
24. Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo
25. Arizona State

Soccer Times (Oct. 20)
1. North Carolina
2. Notre Dame
3. UCLA
4. Portland
5. Virginia
6. Penn State
7. West Virginia
8. Florida
9. Texas A&M
10. Colorado
11. Duke
12. Santa Clara
13. Pepperdine
14. Wake Forest
15. Washington
16. Ohio State
17. Connecticut
18. Arizona State
19. Illinois
20. Nebraska
21. Florida State
22. Utah
23. Tennessee
24. USC
25. Purdue

Soccer Buzz (Oct. 20)
1. North Carolina
2. Notre Dame
3. Portland
4. UCLA
5. Penn State
6. Virginia
7. Texas A&M
8. Colorado
9. Santa Clara
10. West Virginia
11. Florida
12. Duke
13. Pepperdine
14. Auburn
15. Illinois
16. Ohio State
17. Tennessee
18. Florida State
19. Utah
20. Arizona State
21. Purdue
22. Princeton
23. Wake Forest
24. Washington
25. Connecticut

Great Lakes Region
1. Notre Dame
2. Illinois
3. Ohio State
4. Purdue
5. Oakland
6. Michigan State
7. Dayton
8. Indiana
9. Kentucky
10. DE PAUL
10. Kent State
10. Northwestern

C-USA ON TV
The championship match of the 2003 Conference USA Women’s Soccer Tournament will be televised by affiliates of the Conference USA Television Network. The veteran announce team of DON RUSSELL (play-by-play) and AMY PRICHARD (color analyst) will call of all of the action. More details will be released as the championship approaches.

The top eight finishers in the regular season earn a spot in the Conference USA Tournament, November 5-8 in Charlotte, N.C.

STATIONS AIRING C-USA CHAMPIONSHIP
Charter Communications Information Network, Ch. 21 – St. Louis (Live)
College Sports Television (CSTV), DirecTV Ch. 610 – (Live)
Comcast Charter Sports Southeast (Live)
Cox Sports Television - New Orleans (Tape Delay on Nov. 12 at Noon CST)
Fox Sports Net Chicago (Tape Delay on Nov. 11 at Noon CST)
Fox Sports Net South (Live or Tape Delay – Time TBD)
UNC Charlotte Cable Television, Ch. 22 – (Live)
WXIV-TV, Ch. 14 - Greensboro (Tape Delay at 7 p.m. EST)



TIEBREAKER POLICY
The following is the tie breaking criteria to determine seeding for the Conference USA Tournament:

1. Head to head competition.
2. Record versus other conference common opponents.
3. Record against highest seed then ascending order.
4. Goal differential in conference play with a maximum of three per game.
5. Coin toss by the Commissioner.

Note that if at any point in the process, the number of teams is reduced to two, the process returns to the first step.