Rutgers Women's Soccer Nets Three BIG EAST Awards
Oct 06 | Women's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Rutgers women's soccer team received three BIG EAST weekly honors after a 2-0 week, the league announced Monday. Juniors Caycie Gusman (Honolulu, Hawaii) and Erin Guthrie (Sparta, N.J.) were given Offensive Player of the Week and Goalkeeper of the Week honors, respectively, and fellow classmate Becky Wise (West Springfield, Mass.) was named to the weekly Honor Roll.
The award for Gusman marks the second time she has received Offensive Player of the Week honors, and the third time for a Scarlet Knight this year. She previously earned the honor on Sept. 1, and sophomore Ashley Jones (Feasterville, Pa.) was given the award on Sept. 16.
Gusman tallied consecutive game-winners in 1-0 wins over Pittsburgh on Oct. 3 and No. 9 West Virginia on Oct. 5. She leads the team with seven scores on the season and is tied for fourth-place in the BIG EAST in goals scored. She is tied for first in the conference with four game-winners.
"Caycie is one of those players that sees the game two or three passes ahead," said her head coach Glenn Crooks. "On her game winner against West Virginia, she saw the play develop early and that enabled her to be positioned one-on-one with the keeper. The finish was clinical whereas her goal on Friday was more of the spectacular variety from just outside the box."
Guthrie picks up her fourth career Goalkeeper of the Week award and her second this season. She previously earned the honor on Sept. 16. She recorded the 27th and 28th shutouts of her career in the team's wins over Pitt and WVU. The Sparta, N.J. native is fifth in the BIG EAST and 20th nationally in goals-against average (0.583) and fifth in the conference and 30th nationally in save percentage (0.863).
"Erin is as confident in goal as I have seen her," said Crooks. "She is relentless in training and often stays after the team is dismissed to work on crosses or distribution. Erin is doing what big-time keepers do, and that is make big saves in big situations to enable our team to stay in the game."
Wise earns the first BIG EAST award of her career after helping a defense shut out Pitt and WVU, while assisting on the game-winner against the Panthers.
"A big part of our success in limiting opportunities to the opponents is the organization of our back four," said Crooks. "After playing wide back for us in the past, Becky moved to the middle this season and has excelled. Her interception and assist on the game-winner against Pitt was impressive."
