Following a stellar performance in UTEP’s 2-0 win against No. 25 Colorado College, Chelsea Winbush has been recognized by both Conference USA and Top Drawer Soccer (TDS). She was chosen as the league’s Defensive Player of the Week, while also being named to TDS’s National Team of the Week.

It marks the third consecutive week that not only has a Miner secured the C-USA Defensive Player of the Week award, but was also recognized by a national publication.

In snaring C-USA honors, it signifies the fifth different Orange and Blue player- and program-best-tying sixth time- that a Miner has garnered accolades from the league during the 2006 season.

In receiving the distinction from TDS, the Allen, Texas, native becomes the third different Miner on the campaign to be recognized by a national organization. Overall, it signifies the school-record seventh time this season that a player from the Sun City has been so honored.

Prior to the 2006 campaign, UTEP had placed players on national teams of the week six times, making the accomplishments of this year’s edition of the Miners even more mind-boggling.

Winbush played a key role in UTEP’s triumph against the Tigers. The freshman defender was called upon to single-handedly mark Colorado College’s Emily Beans, who entered the game with 11 goals, and she was up to the task. Winbush frustrated the talented forward by leaving her very little room to operate. Beans managed just two shots, only one of which was on goal.

What makes the performance even more impressive is the fact that senior Kelli Yeamans normally covers the opposition’s top scoring threat, but she recently went down with a season-ending injury. Therefore, Winbush was thrust into the position of marking the other team’s best player even though she is only freshman.

Winbush and the rest of the Miners will take to the road this weekend to wrap up the regular season. They will battle East Carolina on Oct. 27 before taking on Marshall on Oct. 29.