Oct. 27, 2008

MEMPHIS, TENN. - Freshman forward Lizzy Simonin was named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week as announced by the league office Monday afternoon.

The Lee's Summit, Mo. native scored six points over the weekend, netting a goal and an assist for the Tigers in both matches. Simonin scored the game-winning goal in a 4-0 victory against Marshall on Friday, then registered an assist on the second goal. The freshman midfielder netted the game-tying goal in a comeback effort in Sunday's 3-3 double overtime decision against East Carolina. She also notched an assist on the goal by Kylie Hayes just before hers as Memphis and the Pirates remain tied at the top of the C-USA standings. This is the first Player of the Week honor for Simonin.

Simonin is tied for the team lead with seven goals on the 2008 season and has three assists. She is also the team's co-leader in the points category with 17. Memphis' last player of the week was sophomore defender Kelsey Bakker who garnered Defensive Player of the Week honors on Oct. 13. The previous offensive player of the week was sophomore forward Krista Turner on Oct. 21, 2007.

Simonin and the Lady Tigers wrap up the 2008 regular season on Thursday, Oct. 30 at 7:00 p.m. at UAB. If Memphis wins, it will have at least a share of the C-USA title with East Carolina. With a loss at UAB, the worst the Lady Tigers could finish is in a tie for third place. The Lady Tigers have not lost since they dropped a 2-1 contest on Oct. 5 at Colorado College. They had won five straight coming into Sunday's contest and worked themselves back in the running for a C-USA regular season title for the second year in a row.

Following the end of the regular season, the C-USA Championship seeds will be set accordingly to the C-USA standings and their tiebreakers. The C-USA Tournament will be played at Rice Soccer Stadium in Houston, Texas and will be hosted by Rice University. First round play begins on Nov. 5 and wraps up on Nov. 9 with the C-USA Tournament Championship.