Sept. 19, 2011

IRVING, Texas - After collecting four saves and her fifth clean sheet of the season, University of Memphis goalkeeper Elise Kuhar-Pitters was named the Conference USA Co-Defensive Player of the Week as announced by the league office on Monday.

Looking for an unprecedented 8-0 start to the season, Elise Kuhar-Pitters and the Memphis defense was tested early on Thursday at Vanderbilt. Just over a minute into the game, a Vanderbilt forward found free space in the Lady Tiger defense and attempted a shot from the left side, but Kuhar-Pitters dove to her right to come up with the save. The Spokane, Wash., native finished with four saves in the match to post her fifth clean sheet in eight matches this season. Kuhar-Pitters also improved her school-record scoreless streak to 527:25.

"Our defense has played well thus far and Elise has stepped up big when she has needed to," head coach Brooks Monaghan said. "I can't say enough good things about the season that Elise is having. I just want it to continue. She is making game-winning saves when she is asked to and that's all you can ask for from a goalkeeper."

Kuhar-Pitters posted her third shutout of an SEC opponent on the 2011 campaign and the victory marked Memphis' eighth-straight victory over a SEC foe. The 8-0 start is a program record and the eight-straight victories are the most in program history.

It is Kuhar-Pitters' second weekly honor this season and the fourth time in five weeks that a Memphis defensive player has picked up a weekly accolade. The weekly honor is Kuhar-Pitters' third of her career. Kuhar-Pitters shares the weekly honor with Tulsa junior defender Claire Hulcer.

The Lady Tigers continue a five-game road trip with matches against Houston on Friday at 7 p.m. and Rice on Sunday at 1 p.m.