Okeowo part of stout defense

With each shutout, the challenge to earn another one became a constant source of motivation for Bupe Okeowo (Forest Park '09) and her fellow defenders for Jackson State's women's soccer team.

So much so that the backline earned the nickname "the Brickwall" as it recorded eight straight shutouts. The Tigers' defense was so tight that opponents were struggling to get off even shots let alone scoring any goals.

"We had our own little clique," said Okeowo, who earned all-Southwestern Athletic Conference honors for her play this season. "We worked well together and that made it easier for us to defend."

Jackson State began recruiting Okeowo after seeing her at a tournament in Orlando, Florida last December.

She visited the Mississippi-based campus in January and committed before she left for home.

Coming into the season, she didn't expect to start, but she soon found herself with the first string. She began as a sweeper and then got moved to stopper so she could have the opportunity to push up into the middle to help the offense.

Jackson State, which fielded its first women's soccer team in 2002, finished the season 7-6-2.

Patrick Murphy (Osbourn '08) and Tyler Bush (Woodbridge '08) are both members of the Louisburg College men's soccer that qualified for the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I National Tournament. The eight-team tournament is Nov. 19-22 at Mercer Community College in New Jersey. Louisburg is 17-2-1.

Bush plays midfield and right back for Louisburg.

"He's very good technically and his passing is good," Louisburg coach Dave Sexton said. "He's a good athlete and when he has the ball he distributes it well."

Murphy ranks 12th nationally in goals against average (0.71). This is his first year with the program after transferring from Methodist.

"He has good reflexes and organizes the backline well," Sexton said.

FOOTBALL

Deante Steele (Potomac '07) was a first-team all WVIAC selection as a cornerback and return specialist for the second straight year.

The Shepherd University junior ranks fourth nationally in punt returns with a 17.0 average and is eight in kickoff returns with a 28.29 average. He returned five kicks (three punts and two kickoffs) for touchdowns.

Defensively, Steele totaled 52 tackles, nine pass breakups and two interceptions.

Ryan Williams (Stonewall Jackson '08) is one of 10 semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award.

Williams, a running back at Virginia Tech, was one of two freshmen named to the list and one of three from the ACC.

Williams leads the conference in rushing and ranks ninth nationally with 1,109 total rushing yards.

Three finalists for the award will be named Nov. 23 and the final winner will be announced Dec. 10.

FIELD HOCKEY

Christina Pybus (Forest Park '06) received Old Dominion Athletic Conference honorable mention honors. The senior from Bridgewater College finished as the team's leading scorer with 13 goals.

Sports editor David Fawcett can be reached at 703-878-8052 or at dfawcett@insidenova.com