Patten Named SEC Defensive Player of the Week
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina women’s soccer junior Anna Patten has earned her first career SEC Defensive Player of the Week honor, the league office announced today.
In her first week returning to Carolina since playing with the England Senior National Team, Patten scored one goal and played all 180 minutes for the Gamecocks in their wins over Purdue and DePaul at the Boilermaker Challenge Cup.
“Excited to see Anna receive her first SEC honor,” South Carolina head coach Shelley Smith said. “It is well deserved after her weekend of play defensively and also stepping up to finish the winning goal on Friday night. She handled her return quite well after being away for a camp with the full national team and played a big role in the two shutouts over the weekend. A huge credit to the defensive effort our entire team made throughout the weekend, and glad Anna is being recognized for this success we had on the road.”
The Harpenden, England, native registered her fifth career goal, and her first as a Gamecock, in the 2-0 victory over Purdue. Patten scored on a penalty kick that ended up being the game-winning goal. She did not step off the pitch in either of the Gamecocks’ victories over the weekend, helping Carolina move to 5-0-0 for the first time since 2014. Patten’s impact on the back line was felt especially against DePaul, holding the Blue Demons to just two shots the entire match, including zero in the first half of the 1-0 victory.
No. 7 South Carolina (5-0-0) has a huge week coming up, with a matchup against Notre Dame (6-0-0) on Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. on SEC Network. Carolina will then head to Clemson on Sept. 15 at 6 p.m. on ACC Network.
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Season tickets are on sale now, with soccer fans yet again getting a great deal. For $25 for adults and $10 for youth 17 and under, purchasers receive a season ticket to every women and men’s soccer match this season. To take advantage of the offer, click here, call 800-472-3267 or visit GamecocksOnline.com/Tickets.
