Ryan Named ECAC Defensive Player of the Week
Oct 03 | Women's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers women's soccer player junior Meghan Ryan (Crofton, Md.) was named the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Defensive Player of the Week for the period ending Oct. 1 the conference announced Monday.
Ryan, who was also named to the TopDrawerSoccer.com National Team of the Week and BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week for the period ending Oct. 2, has started all 11 games for the Scarlet Knights.
The co-captain center back anchors a Rutgers defense that is ranked seventh in the country in goals-against average (0.356) and 18th in shutout percentage (0.64).
Rutgers has held opponents to just 0.36 goal per game and has also limited opponents to just 6.9 shots per game. The Scarlet Knights have seven shutouts this season and have allowed only one goal in the last seven games, the lone score coming in a 1-1 BIG EAST tie with Villanova (Sept. 24).
Although Ryan has played solid defense all season for the Scarlet Knights, against South Florida (Oct. 1), she ended a Bulls' scoring opportunity early in the second half, preserving the Rutgers lead. Ebony Robinson and Jaleesa Scott managed a breakaway against the Scarlet Knight defense, but Ryan chased down Robinson from behind, and knocked the ball loose as goalie Erin Guthrie (Sparta, N.J.) dove on it to end the play.
In 2005, Ryan earned BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week honors (Oct. 24) and was also named to the Maryland/adidas Classic All-Tournament Team (Sept. 10).
Rutgers will close out a four-game home stand on Wednesday, Oct. 1, against in-state rival Princeton with the game broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel at 8:00 p.m.
