It's been a great start to the first week of October for the University of Evansville women's soccer team.  UE has earned its highest regional ranking since 2001, thanks to a number 14 ranking in this week's Great Lakes Region poll conducted by Soccer Buzz.  In addition, the Aces have swept this week's Missouri Valley Conference player of the week awards.  Senior Nicole Zygmontowicz has been chosen as the league's defensive player of the week and junior Kayla Lambert has earned the offensive honor. 
 
One of two central defenders in the lineup, Zygmontowicz helped lead the Aces to a pair of shutout wins, 3-0 Friday over UAB and 1-0 Sunday at IUPUI.  Lambert produced the third hat trick of her career Friday, and the first since her freshman season, by scoring all three goals against UAB.  She has seven goals this season, and 34 in her career.  Lambert ranks 38th nationally in scoring this week.
 
Evansville takes a 7-2-1 record into Friday's Missouri Valley Conference opener at Northern Iowa.  That's the third best record in school history 10 matches into the season.