By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Tennessee Tech soccer season has been over for almost a month, but the honors keep on coming for junior goalkeeper Kari Naerdemann. Having already made history by becoming the first player ever to win three-straight Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year awards, the Herne, Germany native collected yet another accolade to add to an already robust resume.
Naerdemann was recognized on the 2017 United Soccer Coaches All-South Region third-team, joining an exclusive group that features just three OVC players on the list. Murray State's Harriet Withers checked in on the first-team and fellow Racer Nyomi Devine secured a spot on the third-team. Naerdemann is the first Golden Eagle ever to reserve a place on the list.
Naerdemann played each and every minute between the pipes this past season, anchoring a stout Golden Eagle defense that set a program record with only eight goals allowed in 18 matches. The 5-foot-9 goalkeeper bested the OVC and set school marks with a .896 save percentage and a 0.45 goals against average, a mere percentage point behind the conference's all-time single-season record of 0.44.
Along with claiming her third-consecutive OVC Defensive Player of the Year honor, Naerdemann seized a spot on the All-OVC first team for the third year in a row as well, wrapping up her junior campaign tied for the Tech all-time career record with 28 wins. Naerdemann also concluded the season knotted for the conference's career mark of 28 shutouts after registering 10 clean sheets throughout the year.
The Golden Eagles tied a ribbon on 2017 with one of their best seasons in program history, setting a school record with only five losses all year. Tech finished second in the conference for the club's third-straight top-three regular season finish and advanced to the OVC Tournament semifinals for the third-consecutive year.
Photo by Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
