Oct. 10, 2016
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina freshman goalkeeper Mikayla Krzeczowski grabbed SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors, the league announced Monday. The accolade marks the second conference award in the last two weeks for the Douglasville, Ga., native, who was tabbed the SEC Freshman of the Week on Sept. 26.
Last week, Krzeczowski picked up victories against Mississippi State (Oct. 6) and No. 11 Arkansas (Oct. 9) to improve her record to 10-0-1 this season. Her 10 wins are the most by a freshman goalkeeper in school history, and Krzeczowski ranks first in the league in shutouts (6) and goals against average (0.45) and second in save percentage (.848).
The first-year goalkeeper registered three saves against the Bulldogs, including a diving stop to turn away a close-range shot early in the second half. Her performance against Mississippi State gave Krzeczowski her fifth clean sheet in SEC play, and she tallied two saves in Sunday’s win over the Razorbacks. Arkansas’s goal in the 37th minute was the first one conceded by Krzeczowski in 372 minutes.
The No. 4 Gamecocks (13-0-1. 7-0-0 SEC) and Krzeczowski return to action on Sun., Oct. 16, when they host No. 16 Florida at Stone Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET, and the match will air on SEC Network. A win against the Gators would give South Carolina its best start in school history and keep the Gamecocks atop the SEC standings.
