Aug. 25, 2008

FULLERTON, CA - Cal State Fullerton sophomore goalkeeper Shannon Simpson was named the Big West Conference Player of the Week on Monday afternoon following the Titans' season-opening 1-0 victory over Pepperdine.

It is the first career weekly honor from the conference office for Simpson and the first for a Fullerton goalkeeper since Karen Bardsley won the award on Oct. 23, 2006.

Simpson (Irvine, Calif./Irvine HS) made four saves in recording her first career shutout against the Waves, but no save more important than her stop of Amanda Rupp's penalty kick in the 84th minute that would have tied the match.

The sophomore was making only her fourth career start and her first since Oct. 12, 2007, against nationally ranked Santa Clara. Simpson was 2-2 in net with a 1.73 goals against average and six saves in five appearances in 2007.

Cal State Fullerton returns to action this weekend as the Titans travel north to Berkeley, Calif., as one of four teams competing at the California Invitational. Fullerton opens against the host Golden Bears on Friday evening (Aug. 29) at 4:30 p.m. before taking on Saint Mary's on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.