Hannon Named Big Ten Defensive Player Of The Week
9/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 26, 2005
East Lansing, Mich. - - The Michigan State women's soccer team picked up its second Big Ten award of the 2005 season Monday, when defender Kelly Hannon (Elmhurst, Ill.) was selected Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. The sophomore has started all 10 games for the Spartans this season, and contributed at both ends of the field in MSU's conference win over Ohio State on Sunday.
Ohio State's best scoring chance of the game came late in the first half, when a Buckeye forward redirected a corner kick towards the back post. Hannon's timely header cleared the ball off the line and away from danger, preserving a scoreless tie. The Spartans would go on to win their conference opener, 1-0.
On the offensive side of the ball, she has been a dangerous target on corners and set pieces, all season long, for head coach Tom Saxton. In two games last week, the 5'8" defender posted two shots on goal; in both instances Hannon's headers sailed just over the crossbar off of Michigan State corner kicks.
A tough, physical defender, Hannon is part of a Michigan State backline that has allowed just five goals all season. Playing alongside senior Nina Mastracci (Troy, Mich.) and classmates Erin Doan (Dearborn, Mich.) and Taryn Lee (Saginaw, Mich.), Hannon and the Spartan defense have combined with goalkeeper Nicole Galas to shutout opponents in six of 10 games thus far. Galas was MSU's other defensive player of the week; the sophomore earned the honor for the week of Sept. 5.
