Stroud Named Big 12’s Defensive Player of the Week

IRVING, Texas – Junior goalkeeper Kaitlyn Stroud was tabbed the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week it was announced by the league office Tuesday. The honor is the second of Stroud’s career and is the first time a Jayhawk has been honored by the conference this season.

The 5-foot-11 goalkeeper’s heroics helped lift the Jayhawks to an undefeated weekend with wins over South Dakota State and Illinois State. Stroud tallied three saves in KU’s 2-1 victory over the Jackrabbits Friday. She then posted her third shutout of the season against the Redbirds Sunday with the help of seven saves, four of which came in the final 15 minutes of action. The Fayetteville, Ga., native also faced a season-high 23 shots in the win over ISU. Her .909 save percentage against SDSU and ISU was her highest of any weekend in 2013. With her 10 saves in the last two matches, she has now amassed 44 on the year, the most by a Big 12 keeper in 2013.
 
The defensive award is the first for a Jayhawk since Stroud took home her first conference honor on Oct. 18, 2011. The Big 12 honored KU players with weekly awards four times a year ago, with Ashley Williams being named the Offensive Player of the Week once (Sept. 4) and the Newcomer of the Week twice (Aug. 21, Sept. 4), while Caroline Kastor also took home Offensive Player of the Week as well (Sept. 11).
 
Stroud and the rest of the Jayhawks will close out non-conference play on Friday, Sept. 27 when they travel to the west coast to take on No. 22 Santa Clara Broncos. Kick off from Buck Shaw Stadium is slated for 9 p.m. (CT).
 
 
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