University of Connecticut Athletics
Taylor Named BIG EAST Defensive Player Of The Year
11/5/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Nov. 5, 2009
STORRS, Conn. - For the second time in her career, senior captain Brittany Taylor (Campbell Hall, N.Y.) was named the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year at the BIG EAST women's soccer tournament banquet. Taylor first earned the honor in 2007.
Taylor was also named to the BIG EAST First Team following her accomplishment. Two of Taylor's teammates also earned All-BIG EAST Honors as Kacey Richards (Williamstown, N.J.) and Linda Ruutu (Espoo, Finland) each garnered awards at the banquet.
Taylor was named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year adding to her preseason selection of BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year. Taylor is the second UConn player to earn the honor twice following former Huskies standout Sara Whalen who won the award in 1995 and 1996. Taylor earned BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 21 and helped anchor a UConn defense that recorded six shutouts, including four in conference play.
Richards earned her third-straight All-BIG EAST Honor after being named to the third team this season. Richards earned third team honors in 2007 and was named to the second team last season. The junior, who moved from the midfield to the back this season, played 1,629 minutes in 18 games for the Huskies taking seven shots.
Ruutu was named to the All-BIG EAST second team and the All-BIG EAST rookie team. This is the first season the BIG EAST has had an All-Rookie team since the 2003 season. Ruutu finished the year out with a team leading 20 points and eight goal, including three game winners.
The freshman took 39 shots on the year, with 23 of them coming on goal for a .590 shots on goal percentage. With her strong leg, Ruutu guided the Huskies as the corner kick specialist. She was named the BIG EAST Rookie of the Week twice this season on October 5 and 19 and was named to the honor roll on Sept. 14.
Connecticut was the only team this season to have an athlete named to each of the All-Conference teams and garner a major award.
