Kim Sanford Named AAC Defensive Player-Of-The-Week

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – For the second straight week, a member of the ECU women's soccer team was named AAC Defensive Player-of-the-Week as Kim Sanford earned the award for the second time in her career. Joining Sanford in being honored was Courtney Cash and Melanie Stiles who both earned spots on the AAC Weekly Honor Roll, as announced by the conference office on Monday afternoon.

Sanford played 166 in two games last week, including all 110 in a 1-1 tie at No. 16 NC State. Sanford played a crucial role in helping ECU hold the Wolfpack to a draw by blocking four shots. In Sunday's 2-1 win over Davidson, the sophomore from Philadelphia, Pa., sparked the ECU comeback in the second half. First, she pounced on a loose ball in the Davidson box and was able to score to tie the game. Less than 10 minutes later, her header off a Davidson goal kick sprung Jenna Dages on a breakaway which led to Dages scoring the game-winning goal. It is the second time Sanford has been named AAC Defensive Player of the Week, the first coming on September 18, 2017.

"Kim did well for us on the weekend on both ends of the field," said head coach Jason Hamilton. "She had some key blocked shots late in overtime against NC State to keep the game 1-1. Sunday was just one of those days that things were not going our way and we needed something different. We stuck Kim up top and she made plays. That is what you need on a tough Sunday game, someone to be a playmaker and Kim answered the call."

Cash earns a spot on the weekly Honor Roll for the second straight week. The senior from Cary, N.C., scored ECU's goal in the tie at NC State. Cash with a header off a corner kick, her second goal of the season. She leads the team with five points on two goals and an assist.

"Cash has had a great start to the year and did not back down to the challenge on Thursday night," Hamilton said. "For her to get off five shots against a very good defensive unit shows her ability to create things. She scored when her team needed it most."

Stiles played all 200 minutes in goal for ECU this week, making a total of nine saves. Stiles made a career-high eight stops in the tie at NC State to help preserve the draw. She followed it with one save against Davidson to earn her second win of the season. She has 13 saves in total this season and a 0.94 goals against average.

"Mel was huge on the weekend, giving us eight saves on the night against NC State and keeping us in the game," added Hamilton. "Sunday, she controlled the tempo of the game with her feet and kept us in possession, completing 59 of her 60 passes."

ECU returns to action on Thursday at Richmond. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Players Mentioned

Courtney Cash

Jenna Dages

Kim Sanford

Melanie Stiles

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