Megan Holland Named SEC Defensive Player of the Week

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Kentucky goalkeeper Megan Holland was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week for her efforts in goal during Kentucky’s 3-0 victory at Texas A&M in the regular season finale on Sunday. The freshman earned her first career shutout against the Aggies, tying her career high in saves in the process.

Making just her sixth start of the season, Holland notched a career best four saves for the second straight match. Holland has not allowed a goal from the run of play (excluding penalties) in her last 230 minutes of action.

The Barrington, Ill. native’s efforts in College Station helped Kentucky secure its most successful SEC season in 11 years, finishing the year in a tie for fifth place with 18 points and a 5-2-3 record—all marks that are the best for the program since 2014.

Holland became the first Kentucky goalkeeper to earn a win over Texas A&M, doing so in front of over 2,000 opposing fans at Ellis Field. Holland now sits a 4-1-2 on the 2025 season. Holland also became the first Kentucky goalkeeper to earn a road SEC shutout since 2017.

The victory was the first road win of the season for Kentucky and the second SEC road victory under fourth-year head coach Troy Fabiano.

This is Holland’s first career SEC honor and the second weekly honor for the Cats this season. Fellow freshman Gabi Poretto was named SEC Freshman of the Week on September 29 after back-to-back game-winning penalty kicks against Missouri and No. 25 Alabama.

Kentucky will have the week off before traveling to Pensacola, Florida for the First Round of the SEC Tournament on Sunday, November 2. Slotted as the No. 6 seed, the Cats will open their third consecutive campaign at the SEC Tournament against No. 11 seed Florida at 3 p.m. ET on SEC Network.

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