Ryan, DeMaio and Guthrie Garner BIG EAST Weekly Awards
Oct 02 | Women's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers women's soccer players freshman Gina DeMaio (Parsippany, N.J.) and junior Meghan Ryan (Crofton, Md.) were honored by the BIG EAST as DeMaio earned Rookie of the Week accolades and Ryan was named the Defensive Player of the Week the conference announced today. Also earning recognition was goalkeeper Erin Guthrie (Sparta, N.J.), as she was named to the weekly honor roll.
DeMaio earned her first career collegiate award following Rutgers' conference wins over Marquette (Sept. 29) and South Florida (Oct. 1). In Friday's 3-0 win over Marquette, DeMaio scored a goal and had an assist to lead the Scarlet Knights. On Sunday, DeMaio again led Rutgers' offensive production against the Bulls, first blasting a shot from 30 yards out into the back of the net. Later in the game, DeMaio nailed a free kick to Alicia Hall (Port Republic, N.J.) in the goal box, to post her third assist of the season. For the year, DeMaio has four goals and three assists, including two game-winning goals. She also is 1-1 on penalty kicks.
Ryan, who was also named to the TopDrawerSoccer.com National Team of the Week for the period ending Oct. 2, has started all 11 games at back for the Scarlet Knights. The co-captain has anchored a Rutgers defense that has held opponents to just 0.36 goal per game. Rutgers has also limited opponents to just 6.9 shots per game and has seven shut outs this season. The Scarlet Knights have allowed only one goal in the last seven games, the lone score coming in a 1-1 BIG EAST tie with Villanova (Sept. 24).
In the 5-0 win against South Florida on Oct. 1, Ryan came up with a huge play in the opening minutes of the second half. The Bulls came out looking to attack as Ebony Robinson and Jaleesa Scott managed a breakaway against the Scarlet Knight defense. Catching Robinson from behind, Ryan was able to knock the ball loose and Guthrie dove on it to end the Bulls' scoring threat and preserve the Rutgers lead.
In 2005, Ryan earned BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week honors (Oct. 24) and was also named to the Maryland/adidas Classic All-Tournament Team (Sept. 10).
Freshman Guthrie earned honor roll accolades following shutout performances in both of Rutgers' wins last weekend. Against Marquette, she made four saves, while against South Florida, she made one stop for the Scarlet Knights.
Guthrie has a goals-against average of 0.37 in her rookie campaign and has also posted 25 saves. She has started all 11 games for the Scarlet Knights and has registered five shut outs. The honor was the second for Guthrie, as she earned Co-BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week accolades Sept. 18.
Rutgers will close out a four-game home stand on Wednesday, Oct. 1, against in-state rival Princeton with the game broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel at 8:00 p.m.
