George Washington University

Sept. 29, 2003

WASHINGTON, DC - GW goalkeeper Anna Handzlik (Palos Verdes, CA/Palos Verdes Peninsula) received Co-Player of the Week honors, the Atlantic 10 has announced. Handzlik is unbeaten in goal for the Colonials this year in six starts, posting a 4-0-2 record. Handzlik held A-10 rival Richmond scoreless in 110 minutes of double-overtime play on Friday, September 26. She was able to keep the Spiders out of the webbing with a career-high 15 save performance including two key overtime saves.

The transfer sophomore now has 51 saves this season in six matches. She has a demure 0.78 goals against average and has only allowed five goals this season. With two shutouts, Handzlik is tied for the team-lead with fellow keeper Kelly Paolucci (Lanham, MD/Good Counsel) who is 2-1 this year. Handzlik has made six game-saving saves in two overtime periods against both Maryland and Richmond. Handzlik has a .911 save percentage.

Handzlik has been the starter since GW's third game of the year and kept the Colonials unbeaten with two tie-preserving performances against previously ranked Maryland (2-2) and NCAA tournament qualifier Richmond (0-0). The tie was the Colonials best result against Richmond in three all-time meetings. With Handzlik in goal, GW has had their best all-time result against Richmond and Georgetown while tying Maryland for the first time since 1997.

Handzlik's impressive goal keeping has kept the Colonials on pace to have their best season in the program's 24-year history. GW (6-1-2) is riding a league-high seven game unbeaten streak. The Colonials have not lost at home since the 2001 season and are unbeaten in their last 11 contests at Mount Vernon. Thanks to shutouts from Handzlik and Paolucci this past week, GW now has tied a school record with three straight shutouts. This is the Colonials third-best start in history surpassed only by the team's 7-2 record 1995 and 1987.

The Colonials host two more Atlantic 10 opponents this weekend hoping to improve from the middle of the pack in the A-10 after a tie with Richmond last Friday. GW will look to continue their streaks with matches against Massachusetts (2-4-1, 1-0-0) on Friday at 4:00 pm and Rhode Island (2-5-1, 0-1-0) on Sunday at 1:00 pm. Rhode Island was the last team to beat GW at home, winning 1-0 in overtime on October 26, 2001. GW has gone 9-0-2 since then.