CENTER VALLEY, Pa. - After helping the Navy women's soccer team go 2-0 with wins over Lafayette and Colgate and clinch a spot in the Patriot League postseason semifinals, sophomore defender Alex Jackson (Centennial, Colo.) was recognized as the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week, as well as the Naval Academy Athletic Association Athlete of the Week. Jackson played a pivotal role in both victories with the game-winning assist on Wednesday and the game-winning goal on Saturday.

With the Mids firmly entrenched in the Patriot League tournament, last week was about staying atop the conference standings for the squad. Jackson was a key contributor in both Navy's offensive and defensive efforts as the Mids collected hard-fought victories over Lafayette, 1-0 and on the road at Colgate, 2-1. On Wednesday night versus the Leopards, Jackson put a well-struck free kick into the box where Natalie Dzhandzhapanyan headed home the game-winning goal in the 78th minute of a then 0-0 game. Three days later, Jackson was on the receiving end of a Megan Rogers corner kick that she headed past the goalie in the 43rd minute to put Navy up 2-1 over Colgate. The Colorado native played all 180 potential minutes over the weekend and backstopped a defense that allowed just one goal. Prior to Colgate's first half goal on Saturday, Navy's defense had posted 719:21 straight minutes of shutout soccer dating back to Sept. 15.

As a program, this is Navy's seventh Patriot League weekly award of the season. Earlier this campaign, Ash Fairow earned Offensive Player of the Week nods on August 28 and Oct. 2, while Liza Harris was named the Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 18. Baseley McClaskey is a two-time Defensive Player of the Week honoree with accolades on Sept. 25 and Oct. 9. Navy goalkeeper Sydney Fortson garnered the league's Goalie of the Week honor on Oct. 2.

The Mids will conclude their regular season schedule at home on Saturday night with a 7:00 p.m. showdown with the Bucknell Bison. First place and the regular season title will be on the line at Glenn Warner Soccer Facility as Navy comes in with a 7-0-1 record, while Bucknell has registered a league mark of 7-1-0 to date.