BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Auburn soccer senior Sarah Houchin has been named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week for her effort in a pair of wins last week, the league office announced Monday.
The award marks the first of Houchin's career and is the second weekly honor for Auburn this season. Goalkeeper Maddie Prohaska was named the SEC Freshman of the Week following her performance in the season opener vs. Mississippi State.
"She really is the leader of our team as a whole and certainly our defense," head coach Karen Hoppa said of Houchin. "She is always steady for us. I felt, especially in the Georgia game, she elevated her defensive play. Her individual defending was incredible. She was the calm in the storm and led our team to those two victories."
A senior captain, Houchin played center back in all but 200 minutes in the pair of dramatic, 1-0 wins against Ole Miss and No. 12 Georgia last week. The Tigers' win in Athens marked the team's first road win against a top-15 team since 2016.
The Coppell, Texas, native helped hold Ole Miss in check for the entirety of the double overtime contest, limiting the Rebels to a season low six shots. She capped off the week by leading the back line as the Tigers played a man down in the final 35 minutes against Georgia and continued to hold the Bulldogs scoreless to preserve a 1-0 lead.
Houchin and the Tigers haven't allowed a goal in the run of play in nearly 310 minutes to start the 2020 season and currently lead the SEC in goals against average (0.29).
Auburn (2-0-1) returns to action next Saturday, Oct. 24, hosting Kentucky (0-3-2) at 6 p.m. CT at the Auburn Soccer Complex.
