Conference

West Long Branch, NJ -- Monmouth University senior goalkeeper Alex Blackburn (Natick, Mass./Natick) has been named the Big Apple Soccer Player of the Week, the website recently announced. Blackburn was key to the Hawks' unbeaten, 2-0-1 week, earning the wins against Providence and Rider, in addition to playing an instrumental role in Monmouth's 1-1 tie against Hofstra.

After making two saves in the Hawks' 3-1 win over Providence on Aug. 27 and making one save for a clean sheet at Rider on Friday, Blackburn made seven saves in preserving a tie against Hofstra on Sunday. The most impressive of the seven saves was a stop on a penalty kick in the 107th minute to keep the Hawks unbeaten through four games this season.

"It was either I make the save or we lose," said Blackburn. "So I just wanted to step up big for my team. We had a PK earlier in the season and I didn't get to it, so I was a little sour about that. I was trying my best to read which direction he was going off his planting foot. I wanted to make sure whichever side I was diving to, I was getting there, whether it was top corner or low. But I left just a little bit early and got to it."