BIG SKY RELEASE (PDF)

OGDEN, Utah – After scoring two game winning goals and anchoring a Lumberjack defense that posted two shutouts over the weekend, Northern Arizona senior defender Kristi Andreassen has been named Big Sky Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week for the period of September 13 – September 19, the conference announced Tuesday. Eastern Washington's Whitney Brannan was named Offensive Player of the Week.

On Friday against Air Force, Andreassen scored the game's only goal on a header off a corner kick from senior Brenna Boies, a goal which also gave Boies her NAU record 19th career assist. She also played all 90 minutes at center back, allowing Air Force only four shots on goal. The following day against Southern Utah, the Tempe, Ariz. native scored another game winner off a corner kick in the seventh minute and again helped NAU limit the Thunderbirds to only four shots on goal in a 3-0 win.

A defender who has played every minute of the season thus far at center back, Andreassen has not only led the Lumberjacks defensively but is also the team leader in goals (5) and points (11) offensively. She ranks fourth in the Big Sky in both goals and points and is now seventh in NAU history with 14 career goals. She is a two time All-Big Sky first team selection, a 2009 Academic All-American, and one of 30 nominees nationwide for the 2010 women's soccer Lowe's Senior CLASS Award.

The Lumberjacks return to action on Sunday, hosting Loyola Marymount at 1 p.m.

DID YOU KNOW...In the final Learfield Sports Directors' Cup standings, the Lumberjacks were the top-ranked team in the Big Sky Conference, while ranking eighth among schools in the Football Championship Subdivision. NAU also finished ahead of seven Bowl Championship Subdivision teams including Washington State (Pac-10), North Carolina State (ACC), Rutgers (Big East), Pittsburgh (Big East), Mississippi State (SEC), Cincinnati (Big East) and Kansas State (Big 12).