ESPNW Honors Krzeczowski and Fisk as All-Americans
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina seniors Grace Fisk and Mikayla Krzeczowski have been named ESPNW All-Americans, the organization announced late last week. The recognition for Fisk and Krzeczowski is the second All-America honors after both were named to United Soccer Coaches teams.
Fisk led the Carolina defense to the most shutouts in the country in 2019 along with setting the program record for a single season. The 0.32 goals against average was also the best in program history. The recognition for Fisk adds to her long list of accomplishments in 2019 where she was named the SEC Defender of the Year, All-Southeast Region, All-SEC and a United Soccer Coaches All-American.
“There are a lot of talented English players on NCAA soccer fields, but none of them put together a career any better than the three-time reigning SEC defensive player of the year (she shared that award this season),” Graham Hays of ESPNW.com said. “The overtime goal the Gamecocks conceded against Washington State in the NCAA tournament quarterfinal will haunt them, but that was only the eighth goal conceded in 24 games by a team that counted on Fisk’s fearlessness and poise.”
Krzeczowski’s All-America honor is the second in as many weeks. The 2019 SEC Goalkeeper of the Year, Krzeczowski led the country with 16 individual clean sheets, a new single-season program record. Her 0.33 goals against average also is the best in South Carolina history and her impressive consecutive matches started streak ended perfectly with 89-straight starts over her four years in goal in Columbia.
“Standing out as a goalkeeper when you only stand 5-foot-6 isn’t unprecedented (Adelaide Gay won a national title with UNC not so long ago and continues in a sustained pro career),” Hays said of Krzeczowski. “But it isn’t anywhere close to the norm. After starting 89 consecutive games during her time at South Carolina, becoming one of only three keepers in NCAA history to record 50 shutouts (16 of them this season), Krzeczowski leaves her successor some giant shoes to fill.”
South Carolina finished the 2019 season in the NCAA quarterfinals after defeating Samford, Notre Dame and Kansas in the NCAA Tournament. South Carolina claimed the 2019 SEC Tournament title in early November with a 1-0 victory over Arkansas, the fifth overall title in program history.
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