MELBOURNE, Fla. – A perfect 2-0 start in Sunshine State Conference play has deservedly landed both Emma Heikkila and Paige Napolitano a pair of awards on Monday, as the two Nova Southeastern women's soccer standouts were recognized as the SSC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week. The honor marks the third of Heikkila's career, while Napolitano brings home her first.

Heikkila rattled off five more points this week to lead NSU to victories over Lynn and Florida Southern. In the 4-0 defeat of the Fighting Knights, the senior assisted on the game-opening goal before tallying one of her own to give the Sharks complete control heading into halftime. Three days later, she then provided the late-game heroics by notching the golden goal in the 97th minute to beat Florida Southern on the road. Heikkila has now scored in five straight matches, and ranks sixth all-time in NSU history with 25 career goals.

Napolitano, meanwhile, keyed two more dominant efforts by the NSU backline, as the Sharks secured their fifth and sixth shutouts already this season. Napolitano and the rest of the NSU defense held Lynn without a shot for the opening 48:37 of Wednesday's match, and kept SSC-leading goal scorer Anniina Sankoh off the board for the first time in four games. Napolitano then followed up the performance by playing all 97 minutes in the Sharks' overtime win over Florida Southern, helping limit the Moccasins to four total shots in the contest. NSU has allowed just one goal in its first seven matches of the season.

NSU will look to remain unbeaten on the year when it hosts crosstown rival Barry this Wednesday at 7 p.m. For online coverage of the action, visit the schedule page at NSUSharks.com or follow the Sharks on Twitter at @NSU_WSoccer.
 
 
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