Sept. 21, 2009

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. - Navy forwards Brittany White (Carmel, Ind.) and Alicia Crawford (Carrollton, Texas) have been named the Patriot League Women's Soccer Offensive Player and Rookie of the Week as presented by Brine, the league office announced Monday afternoon.

The 8-1-1 Midshipmen have now had a conference-high eight different Navy players earn Patriot League player-of-the-week certificates this season.

White led Navy on the weekend with a goal and two assists in the team's victories over VMI and Mount St. Mary's. On Friday night against the visiting Keydets, she scored the lone goal of the match and the eventual game-winner in the 35th minute.

White maintained her stellar start to the '09 campaign on Sunday, matching her career-high of two assists in the Mids' 4-1 win over the host Mountaineers. On the season, Navy's hard-nosed senior forward ranks second on the team with 12 points (4 g, 4 a) - just one point away from matching her previous season-best of 13.

"Brittany has been a huge part of our attack," said Navy head coach Carin Gabarra. "She seems to be gaining confidence and really raising the level of our play in attack. She is very creative with the ball, confident in keeping possession, and has the ability to finish goal-scoring chances. It is hard to shut her down with all the different talents she gives us."

Freshman Alicia Crawford recorded her first career goal and assist in Sunday's win over Mount St. Mary's

Crawford came off the bench and registered her first three collegiate points in Navy's 4-1 win Sunday over Mount St. Mary's. She scored her first career goal on a header in the 36th minute to give the Mids the lead at 1-0, a lead Navy would not relinquish on the afternoon. In the late stages of the contest, Crawford played a well-placed serve from the right endline to classmate Brittany Fruin (Reston, Va.) inside the six to collect her first career assist.

"Alicia continues to improve and become a better soccer player each and every week," said Gabarra. "She continues to cause match-up problems for opponents with her exceptional speed and tenacity. She has also worked very hard at defending and causes many turnovers on her effort alone. She really stepped up Sunday and played very well for us."

The weekly league honor was the third of White's career (she was twice named rookie-of-the-week during her freshman season in 2006), while Crawford was recognized for the first time in her brief collegiate tenure.

The Mids, who own the conference's highest scoring offense with an average of 2.5 goals/gm, have garnered three of the four offensive-player-of-the-week awards the Patriot League has dealt out this season.

Navy, which moved up three spots into a three-way tie with Dayton (4-0-4) and George Mason (7-1-1) at the No. 5 spot in this week's NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional rankings, returns to action on Saturday at Monmouth for an 11:00 am kickoff.

Patriot League BRINE Players of the Week (Sept. 14-20)
Offensive Player of the Week  - Brittany White, Navy
Defensive Player of the Week - Chelsi Pugliese, Holy Cross
Goalkeeper of the Week - Alex Lostetter, Army
Rookie of the Week - Alicia Crawford, Navy
2009 Navy Patriot League Players of the Week 
Christine Calderon -- Offensive Player of the Week -- Aug. 31
Brittany Fruin -- Rookie of the Week -- Aug. 31
Shelly Moeller -- Defensive Player of the Week -- Aug. 31
Katelyn George -- Defensive Player of the Week -- Sept. 8
Beth Reed -- Goalkeeper of the Week -- Sept. 8
Carissa Youker -- Offensive Player of the Week - Sept. 14
Brittany White -- Offensive Player of the Week - Sept. 21
Alicia Crawford -- Rookie of the Week - Sept. 21

## GO NAVY! ##