Sept. 7, 2005

PORTLAND, Ore. - Portland senior forward Christine Sinclair has been named the national player of the week by Soccer Buzz, Soccer America and Top Drawer Soccer after recording eight goals and two assists in leading the Pilots to a 3-0 record last week. Sinclair set a Pape Field record with five goals and an assist at Oregon last Wednesday and continued her torrid scoring while leading the Pilots to a pair of wins at the Husky/Nike Invitational in Seattle.

The Burnaby, B.C. native put 14 of 20 shot attempts on frame during the week as Portland improved to 4-0-0 on the season with shutout wins over Oregon, San Diego State (3-0) and Pacific (2-0). After setting a Pape Field record with five goals and an assist in Eugene, Sinclair claimed the Husky/Nike Invitational Offensive MVP award by recording a goal and an assist against SDSU and both goals versus Pacific. She has nine goals and two assists on the year and has found the net in each of the Pilots first four matches.

The honor marks the first time in her illustrious career that Sinclair has been named the national player of the week. It is the seventh time she has garnered a national team of the week selection from Soccer America and sixth team of the week award from Soccer Buzz, tying her for the most-ever selections in Soccer Buzz history. She joins redshirt freshman Megan Rapinoe as the second Pilot in as many weeks to garner a unanimous national team of the week selection.

The Pilots return to the pitch this weekend as host of the Nike Portland Invitational. The field consists of four schools which advanced to at least the second round of the 2004 NCAA tournament (UP, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin). UP plays Wisconsin on Friday at 7 p.m. and West Virginia on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.