Monturo Named MAC Defensive Player of the Week
4/19/2022 11:05:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
CLEVELAND, Ohio - On Tuesday, the Mid-American Conference announced this week's MAC Players of the Week, with the honors of MAC Defensive Player of the Week going to Kent State sophomore goalkeeper Taylor Monturo.
Monturo, the Dublin, Ohio native and Hilliard Davidson product, had 16 saves in the Golden Flashes' game against Central Michigan on Saturday.
Monturo had 16 saves and a .533 save percentage in Kent State's game against Central Michigan, only one save less than her career high of 17 in the game against Robert Morris a week prior. On Saturday against the Chippewas, Monturo faced 32 shots in the game, compared to only 23 faced by her opposing goalie for Central Michigan, Alexa Martel. However, despite facing nine more shots than her contemporary, Monturo had a far better save percentage, with her .533 easily topping Martel's .444.
This puts Monturo's season save percentage above the .500 mark as well at .510. Monturo has played in six games for the Flashes thus far in 2022, taking over starting goalkeeping duties only two weeks ago. But that was a good game to do so, as Monturo helped Kent State defeat their archrival Akron at home in thrilling fashion, 10-9. She and the rest of the defense held strong in the final moments of the game, not allowing the Zips to mount a comeback as regulation waned.
Although that was Monturo's first start of this season, she also started eight games for Kent State last year as a freshman, making a total of 72 saves across 13 games in which she participated. Her best game of the season in terms of saves in 2021 also came against Akron, as she made 13 and had a .619 save percentage in the game.
With two games left on the Flashes' regular season schedule, this news is a source of hope and inspiration for head coach Brianne Tierney and her team. The Flashes are undoubtedly proud of Monturo for being named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week, the first Kent State player to be given the honor this season. And as Kent State prepares for the stretch run and playoff push, taking on Youngstown State and Detroit Mercy on the road over the next two Saturdays for a chance at a postseason berth, it's quite possible that this is only the beginning of something very special for the Golden Flashes.
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