Sept. 27, 2010

By Brian Davis, Assistant Media Relations Director

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - After delivering her third career match-winning goal in defeating Arkansas last Friday night at the Regal Soccer Stadium and firing off a team-high 17 total shots while helping Tennessee get off to a solid 1-0-1 start in league play versus the Razorbacks and LSU, Lady Vol junior soccer forward Chelsea Hatcher has been chosen as the Southeastern Conference's Offensive Player of the Week for Sept. 27th.

With time running short in the contest against Arkansas, Hatcher fired from about 22 yards out on the right wing. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native's bending shot got past diving Razorback keeper Britni Williams by barely sneaking inside the right post for the clutch match-winner with only 2:48 remaining in regulation. She launched a team-high 10 shots in the 2-1 victory over UA, while tallying a squad-best seven shots during the 1-1 (2OT) tie against the Tigers.

"I'm very excited for Chelsea Hatcher that she's been named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week," Lady Vol Head Coach Angela Kelly said. "She is definitely coming into her own and is truly becoming a force to be reckoned with. I'm impressed with her development as a player, and the killer instinct and focus that she's showing in training and throughout the early season is a very unique quality to obtain as a female athlete. I'm glad she's playing with us and not against us."

Hatcher currently leads the league in total shots (54) and shots per match (5.40) while rating in a tie for 10th in the SEC in total points (11), goals (four) and assists (three). The 2010 Preseason All-SEC selection also currently possesses the Lady Vol team lead in points, assists and shots while having started all 10 matches for the Big Orange.

Tennessee will return to the pitch this weekend at the Regal Soccer Stadium looking to extend a season-high, three-match unbeaten skein by hosting Vanderbilt and Kentucky. UT will battle the Commodores at 7 p.m. ET on Fri., Oct 1st, and will wrap up the weekend versus the Wildcats on Sun., Oct. 3rd, at 2 p.m. ET. Live stats will be available through Gametracker, while both matches are expected to be live-streamed for free through UTLadyVols.com.