BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama A&M’s Jameela Barrett, Khadijah Shakirof and Jodi Medina have been recognized by the Southwestern Athletic Conference as its SWAC Soccer Players of the Week respectively for their outstanding performances in league competition.
Offensive – Barrett had a hand significant in the offense in both of the Bulldogs' games this past week as she finished with a goal and an assist in 134 minutes of work. She opened the week against Grambling (3/5) as she logged 55 minutes but made them count as she took five shots, putting four on frame. That accounted for the bulk of A&M's eight shots and five shots on goal. While that kept the pressure on the Tigers, she would directly impact the scoring as she assisted on the Bulldogs' game tying goal in the 50th minute of what would be a narrow 2-1 overtime loss. Barrett finished the week against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (3/7) as she played 79 minutes and delivered the insurance goal in a 2-0 victory. That would come in the 87th minute as she was awarded a penalty kick and proceeded to drive it to the back right of the net to essentially close things out and lock up the shutout victory.
Defensive – Shakirof was ever present over the course of two games this past week, logging all 185 minutes. She would be a mainstay in that department as she never left the field as the Bulldogs surrendered only a pair of scores. Those came in the first game of the week against Grambling (3/5) with them scoring their first goal in the opening minutes following a misplayed ball in front of the net. The other came in overtime as a perfectly placed ball off of a corner kick got headed past the defense for narrow a 2-1 overtime defeat. She never left the field, playing all 95:22. Shakirof played all 90 minutes in the Bulldogs finale for the week and was instrumental in turning away not only all eight shots from Arkansas-Pine Bluff (3/7) but limiting them to just one shot overall in the second half. That performance helped lead to an impressive 2-0 blanking of the Golden Lions.
Goalkeeper- Medina delivered a solid week that netted her first shutout of the season. Over the course of two games she allowed just two goals while making 15 saves and posting a 0.97 goals against average and .882 save percentage in 185:22 of action. She opened the week against Grambling (3/5), making 10 saves and allowing a pair of goals. The latter just happened to come in overtime on a perfectly placed ball off of a corner kick that got headed past her for a 2-1 overtime defeat. In that one she played all 95:22. Medina was masterful as she closed out the week against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (3/7) at Bulldog Field. She would play all 90 minutes and make five saves, several point blank, to notch the 2-0 shutout victory and improve to 1-2 on the season.
About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field and Tennis.
Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball.
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www.swac.org.