Margaret gets her first Player of the Week for Soccer at her college and for the Conference - she has 4 of them for Basketball

Margaret Cross, Zach Smith Win Covenant Player Of The Week Award

Posted October 19, 2011 

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- Margaret Cross and Zach Smith have been named Covenant’s most-outstanding players of the week for the week ending October 15.  For Cross, it’s the first time in her career to be distinguished in such a way for her efforts on the soccer field.  Smith, meanwhile, wins the award for the fourth time this season.

Cross, a senior but first year player for the Lady Scots soccer team, had a hand in both of Covenant’s wins last week.  She began the week assisting Kara Lee’s game-winning goal on the road at Piedmont.  Prior to Wednesday’s contest, the Lady Lions had swept all conference opponents and boasted an impressive 12-0-1 record.  Three days later, Cross scored the game-winner herself just four minutes into the overtime period against LaGrange College.  It was her third goal of the season and helped the Lady Scots win-streak climb to five games.

Smith, sophomore runner for the men’s cross country team, led the Scots to a second place team finish at the Oglethorpe University Invitational last week.  His 8K time of 29:35.76 was good enough for fourth overall in the field of 65 harriers.  Smith has now led Covenant in the last four meets.

For the complete list of players of the week, visit the player of the week page.

DECATUR, Ga.- Nearing the end of the fall sports regular season play, the Great South Athletic Conference Player of the Week awards feature first time winners for this season. Erin McKinstry from LaGrange for volleyball, Brian Beckham of Maryville and Margaret Cross of Covenant for men's and women's soccer, respectively. The duo of Beth Burgess and Zach Smith of Covenant round out this week's awards for women's and men's cross country, respectively.

Earning her first volleyball award is McKinstry from LaGrange. She lit up the competition over the past week breaking a school record for assists in a match with 59 versus conference competitor Huntingdon. A few days later, McKinstry exploded with 56 assists against Toccoa Falls in a Panther victory. She currently is second in the GSAC with an average of 7.84 assists per match.

Beckham, reigning men's soccer Conference Player of the Year, is setting himself for a second straight honor with his performance last week. The senior from Knoxville, Tennessee registered the game winning goal in a 3-1 victory over conference foe Huntingdon. Beckham has anchored the Maryville College midfield all year, paving the way for a 2-0 start in GSAC play along with a 9-2-2 mark overall.

On the women's soccer side, Cross nabbed her first Player of the Week award after helping the Lady Scots earn conference wins. She assisted the game-winning goal to take down the undefeated Lady Lions at Piedmont early in the week before scoring the game-winner herself at LaGrange three days later. That goal- her third of the season- came in the fourth minute of overtime and helped the Lady Scots win-streak climb to five games. 

Freshman Burress lands herself as the top women's runner of the conference this week after anchoring the Lady Scots cross country team. Burgess finished second overall at the Oglethorpe University Invitational last week. The freshman ran the 5K in 21:10.09 (a 6:48.8/mi pace). It's the second time Burgess has led the Lady Scots this season. Covenant finished second as a team for their third straight event.

Winning his third Men's Runner of the Week award, Smith continues to be a crucial asset to Covenant's cross country team. He led the Scots to a second place finish at the Oglethorpe University Invitational last week after finishing the race fourth overall. His 8K time of 29:35.76 (5:57.3/mi) was only 45 seconds off the individual race winner.

Covenant Wins In Overtime

Posted October 17, 2011 

LAGRANGE, Ga. -- Saturday afternoon, the Lady Scots soccer team was forced into additional time to determine the winner of the conference match-up against LaGrange College but still found a way to sneak by the Lady Panthers with a 2-1 victory.  Senior Margaret Cross scored the game-winner in the 94th minute of play to propel Covenant to its fifth straight win and a 6-6-1 overall record.  LaGrange drops to 3-9-1.

Covenant now sits tied with Piedmont College- whose only loss came at the hands of the Lady Scots- for second place in the conference standings at 4-1.

Covenant started the game ready to play as Katelyn Newsome was able to assist Kara Lee to score the first goal in only the second minute of the game.  The shot was one of only three taken by the Lady Scots in that half, but with a stout defense that denied LaGrange any first half shots, all seemed to be in control for Covenant.

That changed after the break as LaGrange made some improvements to its attack and started to see progress toward a goal on its end of the pitch.  In the 59th minute, Mendi Kallam provided the equalizer on a free kick to knot the score at 1-1.

Covenant took nine second-half shots but never managed to get one by Panther keeper Chelsea Totaro.  Totaro finished with four saves.

In overtime, the Lady Scots remembered what they had done to start the game and Cross scored within the first four minutes.

Covenant plays again over fall break on Tuesday against Salem College in Winston-Salem, N.C.