Goalkeeper Emily Rusk Named SEC Defensive Player of the Week
9/29/2014 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama junior goalkeeper Emily Rusk was named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week , the league office announced on Monday.
"Emily would be the first to tell you we have been defending well as a team all season," Alabama head coach Todd Bramble said. "I am very happy for her individually to get this honor. She worked hard after a tough season last year and showed great determination to improve her game as a goalkeeper. For her to be recognized in this manner is a great reward for all the work she has put in over the last nine months."
It marks the first defensive player of the week award in her career and the team's first player of the week honor during the 2014 season.
Rusk had a stellar weekend and kept both Tennessee and Vanderbilt at bay, recording 11 saves to help Alabama record back-to-back shutouts on the road in SEC play for just the second time in program history. The only other time it happened came during the 1997 season.
Rusk began the weekend with three stops in the 1-0 victory on Friday versus the Volunteers. As a result, the Tide clinched its first-ever victory in Knoxville. She followed that match with a season-high eight saves in the victory over the Commodores on Sunday.
For the season, Rusk has allowed just six goals and the Tide owns a 6-2 record when she is in net. The Charlotte, N.C., native owns a 0.79 goals against average and an .818 save percentage and has four shutouts on the year.
Alabama will continue SEC play at home this weekend with a pair of games in Tuscaloosa. The Tide will take on the nationally-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks on Friday at 7 p.m. CT, and will then play host to Ole Miss on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT game. Both contests will take place at the Alabama Soccer Complex.
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