ROCK HILL, S.C. – Senior goalie Jasmine Rizk (Andersonville, Tenn.) has made the most of her chance to shine this season.
In her final year as an Eagle, Rizk has already played more minutes in 2018 than the rest of her C-N career combined and has helped the Eagles' mission to contend for a fifth-straight regular season championship.
Earning two clean sheets by way of recording 10 saves against Belmont Abbey and Anderson, Rizk has picked up her first career Defensive Player of the Week award, the South Atlantic Conference announced Tuesday.
"It's exciting just to have the opportunity," Rizk said. "(Freshman goalie) Shannon Hellina, who has been my buddy and my backup this year, she understands that at any point I may get injured or something like that and she has to come in. I understand from the past that it's a tough position, so to be able to step up and fill that role, it's been very exciting. I've been happy to be given the opportunity."
Aided by Rizk's efforts in net, the Eagles find themselves in the middle of a three-straight clean sheet streak, She currently ranks second in the SAC in goals-against average (.71) and fourth in save percentage (87 percent). The streak of shutouts is the longest since Oct. 14 to Oct. 31, 2017.
Kept humble, Rizk said that she has been doing an "okay" job at helping her team win games, but wants to keep focus on the road ahead.
"Hope to just keep that momentum going," Rizk said. "Defense, as always, has been huge, not really allowing a ton of looks at goal and our midfield has really been working to drop back and help out the defense as well. Just really proud of our girls and how they've responded and how they've held up the tempo."
This is the first player of the week honor to be bestowed on an Eagle since Magda Mosengo earned the award on Oct. 16 of last year.
C-N will need Rizk, as well as the rest of the squad, to be in its best form Wednesday when the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears travel to Mossy Creek. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
2019 SAC AstroTurf Women's Soccer Players of the Week
Offensive Player of the Week
Sept. 10 – Hannah Van Eerden, Lenoir-Rhyne
Sept. 17 – Jessica Cravero, Lincoln Memorial
Sept. 24 – Aqsa Mushtaq, Lenoir-Rhyne
Oct. 1 – Sanne Martinsen, Mars Hill
Defensive Player of the Week
Sept. 10 – Jayleen Gant, Newberry
Sept. 17 – Erica Turner, Queens
Sept. 24 – Charlotte Warner, Lenoir-Rhyne
Oct. 1 – Jasmine Rizk, Carson-Newman