Sept. 8, 2014
LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky women’s soccer goalkeeper Taylor Braun became the first UK women’s soccer player to earn a weekly award in 2014 as she was named the Co-Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week, it was announced by the conference office on Monday morning.
“Individual awards always come from team success, and we are very proud of Taylor,” UK head coach Jon Lipsitz said. “We have created a team-based culture, but it is a lot of fun when we can highlight players like Taylor, who are playing exceptionally well. She has stepped in as a freshman and taken control of the net and really showed a lot of good things in the back. We are happy for her, but at the same time, know that this is only the beginning for her this season.”
Braun recorded two more shutouts on the weekend, running her season total to four clean sheets on the season in her freshman campaign. Braun has not allowed a goal in the last 367 minutes of action on the pitch, and in the last five matches has a GAA of 0.210.
The Colleyville, Texas, native has recorded all five wins for UK in the net this season and has only allowed one goal in the past 547 minutes in the net. Braun this weekend made eight saves, including five in UK’s 2-0 shutout win over Louisville on Friday night as Kentucky shutout their rivals for the fourth-straight season.
“Taylor has been working extremely hard in training and it’s good to see the fruits of her labor,” UK assistant coach Ian Carry said, who works closely with UK’s goalkeepers. “As a freshman, she is asking a lot of questions and looking to get better every day in training. She has only scratched the surface of her talent and ability, and she knows that she will have to continue to work hard to continue maintaining the results we are getting in the SEC. I’m proud of Taylor for winning the award, and know that this is just the beginning for her.”
Braun’s award is UK’s first SEC weekly award of the season, and will be recognized live on the SEC Network’s “SEC Now” on Monday night at 7 p.m. ET with Dari Nowkhah and Maria Taylor along with the conference’s weekly football and volleyball honors.
SEC Soccer Awards – Week of Sept. 1-7
Offensive Player of the Week: Pamela Begic (Florida)
Defensive Player of the Week: Louise Hogrell (Georgia)
Co-Freshman of the Week: Taylor Braun (Kentucky)
Co-Freshman of the Week: Courtney Schell (Auburn)
For continuing coverage of UK women’s soccer, log on to UKathletics.com.
