Rice Named SEC Defensive Player of the Week

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M senior goalkeeper Danielle Rice was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Monday.

 

Rice registered a shutout Sunday as the Aggies opened SEC play with a 3-0 victory over the LSU Tigers. The Westlake, Texas native made three saves in the victory and pounced on most of the crosses that came in the box, including all four corner kicks.

 

Sunday's performance gave Rice her fourth consecutive shutout. It marks the longest shutout stretch for the Maroon and White since November 2014. The Aggies have not yielded a goal in the last 367:58 of play.

 

Rice currently leads the SEC in shutouts (four), goals-against average (0.43) and save percentage (.870). The four shutouts rank 12^th among all NCAA Division I goalkeepers.

 

The honor marks the second SEC Defensive Player of the Week accolade for Rice. She earned the recognition the final week of the 2015 campaign. She garnered the award for a performance against Missouri. She entered the season-finale in the 69^th minute with the score tied 1-1 and made four saves in the final 42 minutes of scoreless action, including making a game-saving stop on a penalty kick in the second overtime period to stave off defeat and prevent the Tigers from earning a share of the league crown.

 

Texas A&M returns to action Friday when the Aggies host the Georgia Bulldogs in a 6 pm contest at Ellis Field.