SOMERSET, N.J. (Sept. 24, 2012) – Saint Francis U's Tesa McKibben (Cogan Station, Pa./Montoursville) and Brianna Butcher (East Longmeadow, Mass./East Longmeadow) picked up Northeast Conference women's soccer weekly awards, it was announced on Monday morning.  For the 10th time in her career and the third time this season, McKibben was named the league's Player of the Week.  Meanwhile, Butcher picked up her second Defensive Player of the Week nod of the season.

The Red Flash picked up NEC wins over Mount St. Mary's and LIU Brooklyn over the weekend to improve to 5-4-1 (2-0 NEC).

McKibben was instrumental in Saint Francis' league-opening sweep, tallying six total points on the weekend.  She sparked the offense in the Red Flash's 3-0 win against Mount St. Mary's by picking up a pair of assists before firing the final goal in the 68th minute. On Sunday, she scored her sixth goal of season to lift Saint Francis to a 1-0 win over LIU Brooklyn in a rematch of the 2011 NEC title game.

Butcher made an impressive NEC debut, posting back-to-back shutouts. She made three saves in the Red Flash's 1-0 win over LIU Brooklyn, and seven saves against Mount St. Mary's, which was one short of her season high. Her 13 career shutouts now tie her for second all time in SFU history.

Saint Francis returns to action on Friday when it visits Bryant (6-5; 1-1 NEC) for a 3 p.m. contest.