Paula Wilkins and Christie Welsh share a special relationship as coach and player.

After practice, Wilkins gives her star player a ride home and the pair often linger on the field following games talking about what went right and what did not.

This season, things have often worked out for the Penn State women's soccer team as the coach designed and player executed, so it is fitting that the two be honored together.

Last Thursday, only hours removed from the Nittany Lions' victory against Northwestern in the first round of the Big Ten tournament, Wilkins was named as the Big Ten co-Coach of the Year along with Ohio State's Lori Walker. Welsh was proclaimed the Athlete of the Year for the third time in her three-year career, something no other soccer player has done.

"It's an amazing credit to our kids and to our program," Wilkins said.

Wilkins was facing a tall order when she took over the helm this season after the departure of Penn State soccer institution Patrick Farmer, the only coach the Lions had since the program's inception in 1994.

However, Wilkins did play an important role in building the fledgling program into its current powerhouse position, being an assistant coach for all of Farmer's tenure, including 1999's College Cup berth. She used that experience to guide her team to a 15-3-1 regular season record, Big Ten regular season title, Big Ten tournament crown and its current No. 7 national ranking.

"It's a great award to get," Wilkins said. "You're just happy the other coaches give it to you."

The coach is quick to deflect praise to the feet that find the net and bodies that defend the goal. Among her most reliable starters is Welsh, who holds the career records for goals, points and assists.

"It's a cool thing to get, to get the recognition," Welsh said.

Recognition is something Welsh must be getting used to, as it is her third Athlete of the Year award with no reason to believe a fourth will allude her next season. This also bodes well for the forward's chances of picking up a Hermann Trophy, for which she was a finalist last season, in the coming months.

While Welsh might be the player to get all the accolades, like Wilkins she is quick to defer credit to those around her.

"It shows how well our team is doing," Welsh said. "I've scored a mess of goals this season and I would not be able to do it without them."

Both Welsh and Wilkins hope their winning partnership continues this Thursday when the Lions begin their trek in the NCAA tournament at home against Bucknell.