Cullowhee, N.C. – Spurring a string of three-straight scoreless decisions, Western Carolina senior defender Becca Campbell was today named the Southern Conference Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week for all matches played Sept. 4-10.
The weekly honor is the third weekly defensive award in Campbell's career. The Catamounts have been busy racking up awards this season. Campbell is the first Catamount to earn the defensive award, though she joins Kirsten Hahn (Week 1) and Milla Syska (Week 3) as SoCon Offensive Players of the Week to date.
A product of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Campbell captained a Catamount backline that posted elite numbers in an undefeated and scoreless week. WCU posted a weekly mark of 1-0-1 against Gardner-Webb and directional rival East Carolina.
The Catamount defense kept goalkeeper Leanne Trudel clean all through the night against the Runnin' Bulldogs, only conceding five shot attempts through the night with just two going on goal in the 4-0 win. Additionally, Campbell scored her third goal of the season, sending the eventual game-winner to the back of the net in the 12th minute against the Big South foe.
In their second contest of the week, the Catamounts held an East Carolina team that had exploded for three goals in the outing prior against UNC Wilmington to zeroes through full time in the first scoreless draw of the season. Campbell recorded 175 minutes of shutout action in the two matches last week, chipping in two shots – both on goal – and provided the eventual game-winning goal in the lopsided win against GWU.
Campbell is one of three Catamounts to earn three or more weekly honors from the SoCon in her career, joining current Catamount forward Naya Marcil (4x) and goalkeeper Caitlin Williams (4x from 2007-10) in the accomplishment. The award was split into "Offensive" and "Defensive" awards in 2019, making Campbell the first Catamount to record three Defensive Player of the Week honors.
The Purple and Gold backline will look to keep the clean sheets rolling as they host the Presbyterian Blue Hose on Thursday (Sept. 12) at 7 p.m. at the on-campus Catamount Athletics Complex before turning their attention to the program's Senior Day on Sunday at 2 p.m. when they share the pitch with the Winthrop Eagles. Admission to both home matches is free and both will be streamed through ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live stats available online at CatamountSports.com.
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