BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama A&M has swept the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) women's soccer weekly honors as announced by the league late on Friday, March 12.
Earning those honors were sophomore forward
Jameela Barrett (London, England) as Offensive Player of the Week, senior defender
Khadijah Shakirof (Ajax, Ontario, Canada) as Defender of the Week and senior goalkeeper
Jodi Medina (Coral Springs, Fla.) as Goalkeeper of the Week.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – JAMEELA BARRETT
Barrett had a hand 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 PLAYER OF THE WEEK – KHADIJAH SHAKIROF
Shakirof was ever present over the course of two games this past week, logging all 185 minutes.
As is the case with most defenders, they tend to be judged on what isn't there - namely goals. Shakirof 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 OF THE WEEK – JODI MEDINA
Medina delivered a solid week that netted her 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.
Alabama A&M and their three honorees will be back in action on Friday, March 19 as they host Alcorn State at Bulldog Field. Game time is set for 4 p.m.
