By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – After helping guide the Tennessee Tech soccer team to its first win and shutout of the young season, junior Kari Naerdemann has been named the adidas® Ohio Valley Conference Goalkeeper of the Week. Naerdemann, who secured the honor Tuesday afternoon, did not allow a goal in regulation in TTU's first two matches of the year, making nine saves in the process.
The two-time OVC Defensive Player of the Year has now claimed four OVC Goalkeeper of the Week awards since joining the purple and gold prior to the start of the 2015 campaign.
Naerdemann collected her first shutout of the year in Tech's 1-0 win Sunday at ETSU, a blanking that extended her program record to 19 career shutouts in just over two seasons between the pipes for the Golden Eagles. The win over the Bucs was also the first over ETSU since 2013, as Tech had sported a 0-2-1 record in the previous three meetings with their in-state counterparts.
"We are thankful to the OVC and those within the conference that voted Kari as the Goalkeeper of the Week," TTU head coach Steve Springthorpe said, on his club's first weekly honor of the 2017 campaign. "I know that Kari and the whole team are excited about this accomplishment. Of course as much as it is an individual award for Kari, the rest of the team should feel good about this honor. Sunday's win took contributions from everyone, with many playing a pivotal role in earning a hard-fought shutout victory at ETSU."
Naerdemann registered eight saves Sunday night in Johnson City, tied for fourth most in her Tech tenure. Prior to Sunday's blanking over the Bucs, the Herne, Germany native did not surrender a goal in regulation in TTU's season-opener at Vanderbilt Friday evening, a match that saw the Golden Eagles force overtime for the first time ever against an SEC school.
Naerdemann and the rest of the Golden Eagles are gearing up for their home opener, set for Sunday afternoon against Western Carolina. First kick is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.
Photo by Tony Marable
