Southern States Athletic Conference

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- After claiming its sixth-straight conference title, the Lee women's soccer team also collected both Southern States Athletic Conference Player of the Week Awards. Janaina Novaes claimed the offensive POTW honors and Kristina Chase took home the defensive honors.

Novaes, who was named the SSAC Player of the Year on Friday, scored five of Lee's 10 goals in the Southern States Athletic Conference Tournament this weekend. She scored two goals in the Flames 5-2 win over Reinhardt in the tournament semifinals. She then scored a hat trick against Berry in the SSAC Tournament Championship match, a game that Lee won 5-0. A native Curitiba, Brazil, Novaes' was named as the Tournament's Most Valuable Player as Lee has not lost in the SSAC since her arrival. The senior striker now has 33 goals this season.

 

Chase,a junior on the Lee team, also played a large roll in the Lady Flames' bid to claim a sixth-consecutive conference title. She was forced to play sweeper after and injury to second-team all-conference player, Julie Donnestad. She played 90 minutes in both matches as Lee allowed just two goals for the tournament. The Miami, Fla. native led the Lady Flames back-line, which allowed just two shots to Berry in the conference championship match on Saturday.

Lee is ranked No. 1 in the nation in the latest NAIA National Ranking. This season, the Lady Flames have not lost in the last 13 matches and are a perfect 12-0 against teams from the SSAC.