This post was written by Hatchet staff writer Jake Deitcher.

Junior midfielder Alex Neal is the Atlantic 10 Women’s Soccer Player of the Week after leading the Colonials to two victories over the weekend.

The Colonials (2-2) prevailed 1-0 against Columbia with Neal’s second-half goal serving as the deciding tally in the game. It was Neal’s first goal of the season, and led to GW’s first victory of the season and new head coach Sarah Barnes’ first victory with the Colonials.

Neal followed her performance against Columbia with strong play against Cornell. The Colonials were deadlocked with their opponents at one, until Neal dribbled through the Big Red defense and drilled a shot past the opposing goalkeeper. GW defeated Cornell 3-2 to cap off a successful holiday weekend homestand, and Neal’s two goals over the weekend matched her entire goal total for the 2011 season.

Neal and the rest of the Colonials will work to extend their two-match win streak Friday, when they face Towson to kick off the Navy Invitational.