University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Francis Collects ECAC Defensive Player of the Week Honors
9/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
DANBURY, Conn. - Junior goalkeeper and team captain Taylor Francis has been recognized as the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Division I Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week, the conference announced on Wednesday.
Francis allowed just one goal in two ACC matchups last week as Pitt went 2-0 in those games. On Sunday at Louisville, Francis notched her ACC-leading sixth shutout of the season and ninth of her career. Pitt's six clean sheets this year are the second-most for a season in school history.
With just a few minutes remaining in Sunday's win at Louisville, Francis made a spectacular effort to save a shot from the Cards' Aubrey Baker - a long ball to the far post, forcing Francis to maintain keen awareness of where she was in relation to the frame before batting it away.
The Cary, N.C., native has been the foundation upon which Pitt's defense has been able to play boldly, recording her conference-best 40th save last week. Francis is the first keeper to receive weekly honors since Nicole D'Agostino was named Big East Goalkeeper of the Week on Oct. 15, 2012.
The ECAC is the nation's largest athletic and the only multi-divisional conference in the country with more than 300 Divisions I, II, and III colleges and universities.
Pitt returns to action this Saturday when it travels to take on No. 2 Florida State at Noon at the Seminole Soccer Complex.
