Plantz Tabbed as A-Sun Goalkeeper of the Year
10/26/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Beall, dbeall@uscupstate.edu
MACON, Ga. – Following one of the best goalkeeping seasons in USC Upstate women's soccer history, junior stopper Sarah Plantz has been tabbed as the Atlantic Sun Conference Goalkeeper of the Year as announced by the league office Friday afternoon.
Playing over 1,500 minutes in goal for the Spartans, Plantz cemented herself as one of the elite goalkeepers in the country and finished the season ranked ninth in the nation in total saves with 122.
"We are absolutely thrilled for Sarah to receive this honor," head coach Abby Minihan said. "She has improved so much over the course of the season and there is not a player more deserving of this award."
She tallied a season-high 11 saves in each of her last two games of the season against North Florida and Jacksonville and recorded nine saves or more three other times.
"She puts in so much mental preparation," Minihan continued. "As the season progressed she faced so many shots and she had no choice but to get better and learn how to deal with different situations."
The junior recorded a pair of shutouts, blanking VMI with five saves to open the season and holding Lipscomb scoreless with five saves to give Upstate its only conference victory in the last two seasons.
Along with being ranked in the top 10 in the country in saves, Plantz led the A-Sun in total saves and saves per game at 7.18.
She has also etched her name in the Upstate record book, sitting fifth all-time in career saves with 220, while her 122 saves this fall have her in second all-time for a single season. With her senior season waiting in 2013, Plantz is 155 saves from holding the school's all-time record for saves in a career.
"To have her back next year is awesome," Minihan stated. "It is really exciting because I know our team as a whole will be better. Just to have that foundation in goal is really exciting and comforting."
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