Nov. 28, 2011

CHICAGO - Peter McKeown and Patrice King have been selected as Loyola University Chicago's Athletes of the Month for the month of November it was announced today. A goalkeeper on the men's soccer team, McKeown was named most valuable player of the Horizon League Championship in helping Loyola earn its third NCAA Tournament berth in the last six seasons. Meanwhile, King, a junior on the women's basketball squad, averaged 17.2 points per game as the Ramblers won four of their first six games of the 2011-12 season.

A native of Woodbury, Minn., McKeown was simply sensational between the pipes, posting a 3-1-1 record and a microscopic 0.38 goals-against average in November. The 6-foot-6 keeper recorded four shutouts in November and did not allow a goal, while racking up 10 saves, in three matches at the Horizon League Championship. He opened the month by garnering a clean sheet in Loyola's 1-0 victory over city rival UIC on November 2, then kept the opposition off the scoreboard in Horizon League Championship victories over Cleveland State (1-0), Valparaiso (0-0, 5-4 in PKs) and Wright State (1-0).

For his efforts, McKeown was named MVP of the Horizon League Championship as the Ramblers reached the NCAA Tournament for the third time in school history. His collection of awards didn't stop there however, as McKeown raked in College Soccer News National Team of the Week honors after his sterling performance at the league tournament. In a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Bradley in NCAA First Round action, McKeown posted nine saves.

King made an immediate impact in her first month of competition as a Rambler after sitting out the 2010-11 campaign following her transfer from Ball State University. The 5-foot-6 guard averaged a team-best 17.2 points, to go with 4.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals in six November outings.

She opened her Rambler career in fine fashion by dropping in 21 points and adding nine rebounds, four assists and six steals in a season-opening 77-34 romp over Chicago State on November 11. The St. Louis, Mo., native scored in double figures in five of six contests in November and scored 24 points in back-to-back games against Eastern Michigan and Akron.

King's play was instrumental in helping the Loyola women's basketball team get off to a 3-0 start, its best since winning the first three games of the 2001-02 campaign.