Johnson Named Big South Defensive Player of Week
10/28/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Coastal Carolina University senior Rylie Johnson has been named the Big South Conference Women's So ccer Defensive Player of the Week for games played, Oct. 20-26, the league announced on Tuesday.
Johnson led the way in an outstanding team defensive performance as the Chanticleers shut out first-place Liberty in a 1-0 victory last Friday.
The Flames entered the game against Coastal with a Big South-best 23 goals in conference play and had scored two more goals in seven of their eight previous matches versus league foes but were kept off the board for just the third time all season.
The backline quartet of Johnson, Maddie Phillips, Amber Adams and Melanie Flatter played all 90 minutes of the game and limited Liberty to just three shots on goal, including none in the first half. After Kacey Kelley's goal put the Chants ahead in the 23rd minute, CCU's defense protected the slim advantage for the rest of the match, keeping the Flames at bay as they pressed forward late, looking for the equalizer that would have clinched the regular-season championship.
Johnson and Coastal defense also had a strong game against Radford last Wednesday. Despite a 1-0 loss, CCU held the Highlanders to just three shots on goal and just five shots overall. In Big South play, the Chants have not allowed more than six shots on goal in any game and have given up three or fewer in all but three of the contests.
The weekly honor is the first of Johnson's career and the second for Coastal this season. Kelley earned Attacking Player honors earlier this month. Johnson was an All-Big South first team selection last season.
