Sept. 4, 2007

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina senior goalkeeper Lindsay Thorstenson has been named SEC Defensive Player of the Week following a shutout victory at No. 1 North Carolina and win against East Tennessee State this past weekend.

Thorstenson (Macon, Ga.) played 90 minutes in goal and recorded fives saves to lead Carolina to a 1-0 victory Saturday over the defending national champions. She became the first goalie to shutout North Carolina since Sept. 10, 2004 – a span of 57 Tar Heel games. In addition to being the first time that North Carolina lost a home opener, it was also the first time that a goalkeeper shut them out in a home regular season game since a 0-0 tie on Oct. 27, 2002.

Thorstenson came up big in holding 2006 Player of the Year Yael Averbuch and second team All-America Tobin Heath scoreless on four combined shots, including one from seven yards out by Averbuch. With the shutout, Thorstenson moved up to fourth place on the South Carolina all-time goaltending list with seven career shutouts. She also started the first 45 minutes against East Tennessee State Monday, recording one save on one attempted Buccaneer shot.

Thorstenson is the first Gamecock to record SEC Player of the Week honors since Laura Armstrong earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 25, 2006. She is the first Gamecock to earn Player of the Week honors in the opening week of play.

The Gamecocks return to action this weekend when they compete in the UCF Tournament in Orlando, Fla. Carolina plays UC Davis in Friday’s opener at 5 p.m. and concludes with UNLV Sunday at 11 a.m.