Sept. 5, 2007

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina senior goalkeeper Lindsay Thorstenson has been named Soccer America’s Women’s Player of the Week and NSCAA Player of the Week after her outstanding performance in goal in victories over then-No. 1 North Carolina and East Tennessee State.

Thorstenson (Marietta, Ga.) recorded six saves against the Tar Heels to become the first goalkeeper to shut out the goals since Sept. 10, 2004 – a span of 57 North Carolina games. She came up big in holding 2006 ACC Player of the Year Yael Averbuch and second-team All-America Tobin Heath scoreless on four combined shots, including one by Averbuch from seven yards out. With the shutout, Thorstenson moved up to fourth place on the South Carolina all-time list with seven career shutouts. She was also named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week for her efforts and is the first Gamecock to record a national player of the week honor.

South Carolina (2-0) entered the Soccer America poll this week at No. 13, the NSCAA/adidas coaches poll at No. 22 and the Soccer Buzz rankings at No. 21. It is the highest that Carolina has been ranked in each of the polls in addition to jumping to fourth on the Soccer Buzz Southeast Regional ranking.

Each week, a male and female player will be selected by a committee from a nomination pool comprised of players of the week from each NCAA Division I soccer conference for the NSCAA Player of the Week award.

Coach Shelley Smith will attempt to earn her 100th career victory as the Gamecocks return to action this weekend when they compete in the UCF Tournament held in Orlando, Fla. Carolina takes on UC Davis in Friday’s opener at 5 p.m. before concluding with UNLV Sunday at 11 a.m.