Riley Tabbed as A-Sun Defensive Player of the Week

MACON, Ga. – After a breakout opening weekend to start Atlantic Sun Conference play, senior Raschelle Riley was rewarded for her efforts by being named the A-Sun Defensive Player of the Week on Monday morning.

The Orlando, Fla. recorded her first two assists of the season this weekend while leading the team defensively in a dominant opening two games of conference play. She helped guide the Bears to back-to-back shutout wins over Belmont and Lipscomb and was also instrumental in not allowing the Lady Bisons to record a shot in the game on Sunday.

The Player of the Week award was the first for Riley in her career with the Orange and Black.

“Raschelle is certainly deserving of this honor,” head coach Grant Serafy said. “She, our other center back Kacie Hudson and the entire defensive effort was solid this weekend. To get two shutouts on the road is a good accomplishment and we were pleased to be able to achieve that.”

Riley, a four-year letterwinner for head coach Grant Serafy, has started in 62 games over her Mercer career. Her two assists against Lipscomb this past weekend give her two points this season, tying her career-high for most points recorded in a single-season.

As a whole, the Mercer women’s soccer team is one of just two squads to start A-Sun Conference play at 2-0 this season, Kennesaw State is the other. The Bears started conference play at 2-0 for the first time since their regular season championship season in 2008.

The Bears will return to Bear Field next weekend as A-Sun play continues with the likes of North Florida and Jacksonville heading to Macon. North Florida and Mercer will kick-off at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 24, and the Dolphins will invade Bear Field at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 26.