ST. LOUIS – Sophomore Alyssa Brand (Skokie, Ill.) of the Drake University women's soccer team was named Missouri Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week while junior defender Kasey Hurt (Ankeny, Iowa) was named MVC Defensive Player of the Week, the league office announced Tuesday, Sept. 6.
 
Brand was outstanding this past weekend for the Bulldogs scoring the winning goals in each of the team's victories. Her first game-winner came in the 29th minute in Drake's 1-0 win over South Dakota Friday night. She followed that with the game-winner in the 83rd minute as Drake rallied to defeat Milwaukee, 2-1, Sunday. Brand leads the team in goals scored this season with three and has eight in her career.
 
Hurt played all 90 minutes in each of Drake's wins. She helped blank South Dakota, 1-0 and assisted on both of Drake's goals in the comeback win over Milwaukee. Hurt leads the team in assists this season with three and has 10 in her career. Her career assists total is tied for eighth all-time in program history.
 
This is the first MVC Offensive Player of the Week award and MVC Defensive Player of the Week award for Brand and Hurt, respectively, in their careers.
 
Drake travels to the Navy Invitational this weekend for matches against Navy on Sept. 9 and Towson on Sept. 11.