Oct. 24, 2011

IRVING, Texas – After clinching the Conference USA Regular Season Championship on Sunday, Christabel Oduro and Lizzy Simonin were named C-USA Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, as announced by the league office on Monday.

Oduro, also named to the TopDrawerSoccer.com National Team of the Week, had three goals on the weekend as the U of M improved to 17-0-1 on the season. The speedy sophomore forward provided the second of Memphis' three goals at Southern Miss on Friday. On Sunday, Oduro provided the game-winner at UCF and later added an insurance goal as the Lady Tigers rolled past UCF 3-0. With two goals in Sunday's match, Oduro has scored in four-straight matches and five of the last six matches overall. The Brampton, Ontario, native leads C-USA with 11 goals and has seven goals in league play. Oduro notched a game-winning goal for the second-straight weekend of conference play with the winner on Sunday.

“Christabel is playing extremely well right now,” head coach Brooks Monaghan said. “As I always say, the sky is the limit for Christabel. She hasn’t met her potential yet, but you hope with her ability she will continue to move in the right direction. If she is able to do that, she will receive many more of these awards.”

Simonin continued to anchor a stout Memphis defense as the squad posted an 11th and 12th shutout of the season. Simonin and the defense held the Golden Eagles to just one shot in Friday’s match and did not surrender a shot on goal. On Sunday, Memphis shutout UCF and held the Knights to just three shots on goal. With the two clean sheets this weekend, Memphis tied the single-season school record with a 12th shutout.

“Our defense is playing great right now and Lizzy and Elise Kuhar-Pitters are the anchors back there,” Monaghan said. “Lizzy gives everybody so much confidence back there. It’s not only what she brings from a defensive standpoint, it’s what she brings from an offensive as well. I can’t say enough good things about Lizzy and what she brings this program on and off the field.”

Oduro earns C-USA Offensive Player of the Week honors for the second-straight week and third time this season. Simonin garners her second weekly accolade of the season and fifth for the defensive unit. The 2011 squad has eight weekly honors this season, the most in program history. Oduro appears on the TopDrawerSoccer National Team of the Week for the second-straight week as well.

“The regular season championship was one of many goals this season and it’s a goal we’ve met,” Monaghan said. “We know there is a lot more soccer to be played and another goal is to go undefeated in conference play. We know Thursday’s game against UAB is going to be tough and all focus is on that game right now.”

Memphis closes the regular season schedule at UAB on Thursday at 7 p.m. Postseason play begins on Nov. 2 with the C-USA Tournament hosted at Mike Rose Soccer Complex.