Florida's Sarah Chapman is SEC Freshman Soccer Player of the Week
Monday, September 15, 2008 | Soccer
University of Florida's Sarah Chapman is the Southeastern Conference Freshman Soccer Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday afternoon. This is the first such honor for Chapman and the third for UF this season, as Tahnai Annis collected the honor on Aug. 25 and Sept. 8. Other award winners this week include South Carolina freshman Kayla Grimsley (SEC Offensive Player of the Week) and Alabama senior goalkeeper Kara Gudmens (SEC Defensive Player of the Week).
Chapman's first collegiate goal turned out to be the game-winner, as Florida defeated No. 18 Illinois 2-0 on Sept. 12. Chapman took a hard shot in the middle of the box to bang in her first goal in the 49th minute. The win was Florida's second consecutive versus a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) top-25 team.
She is the second Florida freshman this season to score a game-winning goal as their first collegiate score (Annis was first at Florida Atlantic on Aug. 24). Chapman has started five of the Gators' six matches this season, playing either on the backline or at midfield. She is second among Florida's freshmen with her average of 60 minutes per match.
Chapman is a 2008 Parade All-American and was listed among the top 20 soccer recruits in the nation by RISE Magazine. She is part of the 16-member Gator freshmen class that is ranked as the nation's No. 8 class by SoccerBuzz.com.
Next up, Florida makes its first trip to the state of Oregon to face perennial power and current No. 6 Portland on Friday, Sept. 19. Match time is set for 9 p.m. (ET) at the Harry A. Merlo Field at the Clive Charles Soccer Complex. The match can be heard live on WRUF AM 850.
