BURNSVILLE, Minn.- Freshman Holli Knudsen, a native of Omaha, Neb., made history for the University of Sioux Falls Soccer by being named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Goalkeeper of the Week, released by the league office Monday.
Knudsen becomes the first Cougar to be named an NSIC Player of the Week since joining the league in 2012, and the first Cougar to be named Player of the Week since Kelsey Van Peursem was named Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Defensive Player of the Week in 2010.
"Being the first player to earn this award since becoming a DII team is impressive," said Women's Soccer Head Coach
Brittany Domino. "It is definitely a well deserved award for Holli, and we couldn't be happier for her."
Knudsen earns the honors after a 2-0 weekend that included a 2-0 win over Upper Iowa on the road and a 2-1 Senior Day victory against Winona State. Knudsen played all 180 minutes in the matches, recording 21 saves and allowing only goal and earned a clean sheet against Upper Iowa.
Knudsen was faced with 21 corner kicks, but none as important as the final corner kick that Winona State had in the 89th minute on Sunday. Down 2-1, Winona State had an opportunity for an equalizer by setting up a corner kick. The ball was sent into the right-center on the penalty box in front of the net. The ball was positioned perfectly to a group of four Warriors, but it was Knudsen who emerged in the midst of the Warriors with the ball to eliminate the equalizer opportunity and cap off the Cougars 2-1 victory on Sunday.
"Holli did a great job for us this weekend in goal," Domino said. "She has came up big on multiple occasions for us in critical moments. We faced a lot of corner kicks this weekend and I think this is where Holli really excelled. Her presence in those high pressure moments was outstanding. Getting minutes as a freshman goalkeeper is something that is difficult to do. It is a position that requires a great amount of confidence and decision making which isn't easy for anyone, especially a freshman. Holli did outstanding with both of these challenges this weekend. She played a major role in our team going 2-0 this weekend."
