Francis Marion University sophomore midfielder Nalani Hunt and junior goalkeeper Erin Grabeel have been named the Conference Carolinas women's soccer Player and Defensive Player of the Week for the week of Oct. 6-12.  It is the third time this season, Grabeel has earned the defensive award.

A native of Swindon, England, Hunt scored two goals with four shots, while averaging only 29.5 minutes played last week in two shutout wins.  She scored twice in a 4-0 road win at UNC Pembroke, while recording three shots in 29 minutes of action.  She then recorded one shot in 30 minutes during a rainy 2-0 home win over Belmont Abbey College in a re-match of last year's conference tournament title contest.

Despite not starting a match this season, Hunt is second on the team in scoring with four goals and two assists.

A native of Gordonville, Va., Grabeel registered eight saves and did not allow a goal in two matches last week to run her scoreless streak in goal to a school-record 734:15.

She made a season-high seven saves in the win at UNCP, including a big 1v1 save against first-team All-Conference performer Mercy Bell with no score in the first half, and a push save over the crossbar in a 1-0 game early in the second half.  She followed that with a one-save performance in the victory over Belmont Abbey.

Grabeel's nine shutouts this season rank second nationally in Division II, while she ranks fifth in goals against average (0.200) and seventh in save percentage (0.917).

The pair have helped Francis Marion to a 10-0 record, the best start in program history.  FMU moved up three shots to 18th in last week's United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll, and the Patriots are one of only two unbeaten and untied teams left in NCAA Division II women's soccer.

FMU will host a pair of matches this week:  Barton College on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. and Ferrum College on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Hunt is majoring in sports marketing and is a product of Hartpury College.  Grabeel, a mechanical engineering major, is a graduate of the Shattuck-St. Mary's School in Faribault, Minn.

   
          Nalani Hunt                          Erin Grabeel