Kelly Penston, North Georgia

Freshman Kelly Penston has been named the North Georgia Athlete of the Week after coming up big in the team’s only game of the week at USC Aiken, adding a goal and an assist as the Lady Saints came storming back to pick up a victory to open Peach Belt Conference play. With time running down under 18 minutes at the Pacer Pit, Penston sent a perfect cross into the box that led to the game-tying goal, her second assist of the season. The Suwanee, Ga., native then came back less than 12 minutes later, gathering a loose ball at the top of the box and blasting a shot just inside the left post to send North Georgia to a 2-1 victory over the Pacers and 1-0 start in league play. Penston is second on the team with six points, while leading the team in shots, shot on goal, and shot on goal percentage. The 2-1 win at USC Aiken marks the first time since 2002 the Lady Saints have picked up a victory in their first conference game of the season, dating back to a 5-0 shutout of Southern Wesleyan seven years ago.