There are eight teams and about 175 players on men's soccer teams in the Appalachian Athletic Conference, so it's fairly rare when players from the same team collect the AAC's two Players of the Week awards in the same week.
But the likelihood of that happening decreases immensely when one team records a 2-0 record in a week that features both an "offensive fireworks show" and a "goalkeeping clinic."  So a memorable week for Montreat College led to Stephen Jackson, a senior midfielder from Florida, earning the AAC Offensive Player of the Week award while senior goalkeeper Howard Fisher from Jamaica collected the honors as the AAC Defensive Player of the Week for the week of October 5-11, 2009.

In the Cavaliers' 6-0 whitewashing of Bluefield College on October 7, Jackson ignited a powerful attack with a goal and an assist; his goal was a backbreaker as it came with seconds left in the first half and made Montreat's lead seem insurmountable at 3-0.  Three days later, his opening goal was vital in a closely-contested 2-1 win over Reinhardt College as he tied a match in which the home side struggled to generate offense.

Fisher collected his 32nd career shutout in the Bluefield match, but despite allowing a goal against Reinhardt, his performance against the Eagles was applauded more loudly than the shutout.  Montreat College Head Coach Brenton Benware cited the match as a standout in Fisher's career, saying it was a "goalkeeping clinic" as he produced both spectacular saves and exhibited calm and able ball-handling as the last line of defense.

Congratulations to Jackson and Fisher for the AAC awards and the victories that caught the eye of those deciding which players merited them.  Perhaps Montreat College's perch on top of the conference standings will keep all eyes on Cavalier blue.