Full Weekly Release

DAHLONEGA, GA – For the second straight week, North Georgia women’s soccer star Casey Smith was been tabbed as the Peach Belt Conference Defender of the Week, the first player to ever earn the award in back-to-back weeks.

While Smith is only player to earn the weekly defensive award in back-to-back weeks, the Stockbridge, Ga., native is one of only two players to ever earn the PBC Defensive Player of the Week award three different times, sharing the honor with current GCSU standout Morgan Cobb. Two other players have won the award on two different occasions, including Jessica English who captured the award five weeks apart to start the 2007 season.

Smith continued to dazzle in the Lady Saints’ only game last week, tallying two assists, while leading a defense that allowed just one shot on goal in a 5-0 shutout over West Georgia. The junior defender recorded her to two assists in the second half against the Wolves, sending a corner kick into the middle that found the foot of Natalie Douglass in the 50th minute, before setting up Kelly Martin for the final goal of the game in the 65th minute.

The two-time PBC All-Conference selection, and two-time Peach Belt Preseason All-conference pick leads the league in assists with three, while she is tied for the team lead in goals with two.

With Anderson University being North Georgia’s final non-conference game before Peach Belt Conference play starts over the weekend at USC Aiken, the Lady Saints will look stay undefeated and jump into their first-ever NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll next week. North Georgia moved up to 4th in the latest Southeast Regional Poll released on Tuesday afternoon, while the squad garnered national attention, receiving votes in the top 25 poll for the first time in school history.

Smith will look to lead her squad into the Lady Saints’ home opener as they play host to Anderson University at the Soccer Complex on Wednesday, September 9, at 6:00 p.m.