Nov. 9, 2009

EASTON , Pa. - For the third time this season, Lafayette's Nick Leigh (Urbana, Ill./Urbana) and Philip Nelson (Attleboro, Mass./Attleboro) picked up Patriot League Player of the Week honors. The seniors were named Defensive Player and Goalkeeper of the Week, respectively.

Leigh capped off the final home game of his career with a goal in the Leopards' 3-0 shutout of Navy to capture their 10th victory of the season. Nelson, meanwhile, picked up his ninth shutout this season and 20th of his career with three saves against the Midshipmen.

Leigh scored the game winner when he netted his first goal of the season less than six minutes into the match to give his squad the early 1-0 lead. Leigh and the rest of the Lafayette defense made sure one goal was more than enough as they limited the Mids to nine shots, only four of which were on goal. The win was Lafayette's sixth straight against the Mids and second straight 3-0 win against them.

This season, Leigh has started 17 of the 18 games in which he's played. He has one goal and one assist for three points. The Lafayette defense has recorded 11 shutouts this fall and the team has given up only one goal in its last five matches (3-1-1 record).

Last month, the Biology major was named to the ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District 2 First team, one of eight Patriot league men's soccer players to earn Academic All-District Honors. Leigh maintains a 3.65 overall grade-point average (GPA) and serves as a Peer Mentor.

Philip Nelson, Patriot League Goalie of the Week

Nelson, meanwhile, had three saves against Navy to pick up ninth shutout and eighth win of the fall. His nine shutouts are third-most in Lafayette single season history and his 20 career shutouts are tied for third all-time.

He leads the Patriot League in goals-against average (0.59), save percentage (.862) and shutouts. Nelson has surrendered only one goal in the five league games in which he's played.

The Mechanical Engineering major is one of four Engineering majors on the team. His course schedule this semester consists entirely of engineering classes, including Control Systems and Heat Transfer. He is also taking Senior Design Project I.

With their win over Navy, the Leopards secured the No. 4 seed in the Patriot League Tournament, marking the team's eighth-straight trip to the tournament. Lafayette will take on No. 1 seed Bucknell on Friday at 5 p.m. in Lewisburg.