Brand wins first career RSC Defensive Player of the Week Award

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio -- As her freshman season has gone by, Shawnee State freshman goalkeeper Harlee Brand has gotten better with each passing match.

The Winchester, Ohio native's hard work culiminated in personal hardware Monday afternoon, as the North Adams High School graduate won her first career River States Conference Defensive Player of the Week Award after making seven stops in Shawnee State's 0-0 tie against Saint Mary-of-the-Woods and posting the first two clean sheets of her career in a 1-0-1 week for the Bears, who defeated Indiana-Columbus 2-0 Thursday evening in addition to its 0-0 tie with SMWC.

Brand led a terrific defensive effort by the Bears in both contests, as the freshman goalkeeper's defensive communication helped Shawnee State post a 17-1 advantage in shots against Indiana-Columbus. The 5-8 goalkeeper then made the aforementioned seven saves in Shawnee State's latter match against Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

Following her latter effort against the Pomeroys, Brand has now saved 32 out of the last 36 shots that she's faced in the process, helping SSU go 3-2-1 since Oct. 3.

Brand is up to 43 saves now for the season as well as for her young SSU career, and has lowered her goals-against-average to 2.08.