RICHMOND, Va. – After scoring three goals over the weekend, which included wins over Gardner-Webb and Charlotte, Elon University women’s soccer senior Samantha Burch was named the Colonial Athletic Association Co-Player of the Week on Monday, Sept. 21, as released by the conference office.
The midfielder from Chapel Hill, N.C., opened the weekend on Friday night with a game-winner in the 106th minute of the second overtime period to lead Elon to a 2-1 victory on the road at Gardner-Webb. She volleyed a bouncing ball in the box into the top right corner of the net for the winner.
Burch then scored twice in Elon’s 4-2 win against Charlotte on Sunday, including a penalty kick in the 89th minute to seal the 4-2 win. She also scored early in the second half finishing a pass from Tori Baliatico into the right side to give the Phoenix a 2-0 lead in the 49th minute.
Burch is now the team’s leading scorer with four goals this season. Elon is off to its best start in program history for the Division I era with a 7-1-1 start. The previous-best record for the Phoenix was in 2013 when the team was 6-1-2 to start the year.
In addition to Burch, UNCW’s senior goalkeeper Carolyn Huddy was also named Player of the Week allowed just one goal in 180 minutes as UNCW extended its win streak to six straight games after victories at East Carolina and at Wake Forest.
Elon opens CAA play next Friday, Sept. 25, against Northeastern at faces Hofstra on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 1 p.m. Both matches will be played at Rudd Field.