Eastern Michigan Athletics
Kaylin Williams Named MAC Defensive Player of the Week
10/18/2016 3:24:00 PM | Soccer
The sophomore posted back-to-back shutouts over the week
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — After posting a pair of shutouts and leading the Eastern Michigan University women's soccer team to a 1-0-1 record over the weekend, sophomore goalkeeper Kaylin Williams (Kansas City, Mo.-Winnetonka) was named Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Week, Oct. 18. The league office's announcement marks the first time an Eagle has been honored this season, and is Williams' first league award of her career.
Williams was incredible in goal for the Eagles this weekend, leading Eastern Michigan to a 1-0-1 mark. In Eastern's match against Ohio, Oct. 14, Williams faced 10 shots by the Bobcats but held steady. With a few crucial saves down the stretch, Williams posted her fifth career shutout as the Eagles topped Ohio, 2-nil.
Then, on Sunday, Williams turned in an exceptional performance against league leading Kent State. Williams and the Eagles defense held the top offense in the conference without a goal en route to a scoreless draw. KSU finished the day with 14 shots, but a six-save effort from Williams held the Golden Flashes in check. With the scoreless draw, EMU became just the second team this season to hold Kent State without a goal. Sunday's clean sheet marked the sixth of Williams' career and the second consecutive shutout by EMU. The draw also marked the first time Eastern Michigan has posted back-to-back shutouts since Oct. 28-30, 2014.
Garnering her first MAC award of her career, Williams became the first Eagle named MAC Player of the Week since Kristin Nason did so Sept. 8, 2015. The Kansas City, Mo. product is the first goalkeeper to be honored by the conference since Megan McCabe was named MAC Defensive Player of the Week, Oct. 13, 2014.
Williams and Eastern Michigan hits the road for the final weekend of conference play, Oct. 21-23, before returning home for its regular season finale, Oct. 27. EMU battles the University at Buffalo, Thursday night, Oct. 21, in New York, before traveling to Akron, Oct. 23, for a tilt against the University of Akron. The Eagles' match versus Buffalo is slated for 7 p.m.
Williams was incredible in goal for the Eagles this weekend, leading Eastern Michigan to a 1-0-1 mark. In Eastern's match against Ohio, Oct. 14, Williams faced 10 shots by the Bobcats but held steady. With a few crucial saves down the stretch, Williams posted her fifth career shutout as the Eagles topped Ohio, 2-nil.
Then, on Sunday, Williams turned in an exceptional performance against league leading Kent State. Williams and the Eagles defense held the top offense in the conference without a goal en route to a scoreless draw. KSU finished the day with 14 shots, but a six-save effort from Williams held the Golden Flashes in check. With the scoreless draw, EMU became just the second team this season to hold Kent State without a goal. Sunday's clean sheet marked the sixth of Williams' career and the second consecutive shutout by EMU. The draw also marked the first time Eastern Michigan has posted back-to-back shutouts since Oct. 28-30, 2014.
Garnering her first MAC award of her career, Williams became the first Eagle named MAC Player of the Week since Kristin Nason did so Sept. 8, 2015. The Kansas City, Mo. product is the first goalkeeper to be honored by the conference since Megan McCabe was named MAC Defensive Player of the Week, Oct. 13, 2014.
Williams and Eastern Michigan hits the road for the final weekend of conference play, Oct. 21-23, before returning home for its regular season finale, Oct. 27. EMU battles the University at Buffalo, Thursday night, Oct. 21, in New York, before traveling to Akron, Oct. 23, for a tilt against the University of Akron. The Eagles' match versus Buffalo is slated for 7 p.m.
Players Mentioned
Cinematic Highlights: Eastern Soccer vs. Kent State
Monday, October 28
Cinematic Highlights: Soccer vs. Western Michigan
Monday, October 14
Cinematic Highlights: Eastern Soccer vs. Miami
Monday, October 07
Cinematic Highlights: Eastern Soccer vs. Toledo
Friday, September 27