Oct. 9, 2002
Cullowhee, N.C. - The Western Carolina University Athletics Department has announced that Rod Dunlap (football) and Mandi Tinsley (soccer) have been named the Arby's/Catamount Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Month for September.
During the month of September, Dunlap (Winston-Salem, N.C.) was tabbed SoCon Defensive Player of the Week in the Cats' season opening win at Liberty. He tallied 10 tackles, including a sack, with a forced fumble, a recovered fumble and an interception. Dunlap matched his total the following week with 10 stops at Auburn. As Western began its SoCon schedule, Dunlap turned up his production, recording 11 tackles at The Citadel, including two TFLs, and 11 tackles versus East Tennessee State, including five TFLs. With his five TFLs versus the Bucs, he joins Michale Spicer, who had five TFLs versus West Virginia Tech, in the WCU record book as two of five Catamounts to accomplish the feat.
For the season, Dunlap ranks seventh in the SoCon with his tackles average of 8.3 per game, while his 50 total stops ranks third in the league. Once in every 4.5 tackles Dunlap drops an opponent behind the line of scrimmage, making him the third in the league with 11 total tackles for loss ? an average of 1.8 per contest.
After three solid years playing in the net, Tinsley (High Point, N.C.) has come out to the field with more confidence and determination so far this 2002 season. Her new attitude and improved communication with her teammates has made her tougher to beat over the top as she extended her save percentage to 89 percent after the match at Davidson on Sept 29.
For all games through Sept. 29, Tinsley allowed the fewest goals in the conference (8); a credit to the intensity at which the team plays. Tinsley also led the Southern Conference in saves per game (8.00) and posted the lowest goals against average in the league (0.95). As of last week she was ranked at a tie for 15th in the country in saves per game. She had 64 total saves and two shutouts through Sept., and a 4-2-2 overall record while remaining undefeated in the SoCon at 2-0-2.
