Goalkeeper of the Year Devon Kerr Headlines Buckeyes’ Big Ten Honorees
10/26/2018 2:05:34 PM | Women's Soccer
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Devon Kerr headlined a group of seven members of the Ohio State women’s soccer team to earn Big Ten individual honors, the conference office announced Friday. Kerr was named Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year and was joined by Izzy Rodriguez as a first team All-Big Ten selection while Sarah Roberts garnered second team All-Big Ten honors. Talani Barnett, Kayla Fischer and Emaly Vatne each earned Big Ten All-Freshman team laurels while Alyssa Baumbick was named the Buckeyes’ Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree.
Kerr, a senior from Barrie, Ontario, is tied for third in the conference with seven shutouts and fourth with a 0.83 goals-against average while starting all 17 contests. Five of Kerr’s clean sheets came in conference play to tie for the most in the Big Ten, three came against ranked opponents and her .821 save percentage also ranks third in the conference. Kerr, who is the Buckeyes’ first Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year, ranks third in Ohio State history with 18 career shutouts. Kerr was a second team All-Big Ten selection a season ago and a member of the Big Ten All-Freshman team in 2015.
Rodriguez has been a stalwart on the Buckeyes’ back line, appearing in 17 matches and making 16 starts after returning from the U-20 Women’s World Cup in France in August. The left back, who was played the full match 15 times, is tied for the team lead with four goals and tied for third with two assists. All four goals have come in Big Ten play, tying the Canton, Mich., native for seventh in the conference in that category. Three of Rodriguez’s goals have either won or tied the match and both of her assists have come on Buckeye game-winners. Rodriguez was a third team All-Big Ten pick and a member of the Big Ten All-Freshman team last season.
Roberts, from Aliso Viejo, Calif., has battled injuries to play in 13 matches, making 12 starts, as a senior. A critical member of the Buckeye midfield, Roberts has started 73 matches in her career, scoring six goals and assisting on four more. Roberts was a third team All-Big Ten honoree last year and a Big Ten All-Freshman team selection in 2015.
Barnett, from Bay Shore, N.Y., has come off the bench in 15 matches. The freshman is tied for third on the team with two assists and tied for fifth with a pair of goals. Barnett scored the Buckeyes’ first goal and assisted on two more in a win over Morehead State and scored the game-winner in Ohio State’s 2-0 win over Iowa.
Fischer, who earned Big Ten Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week honors Aug. 28, has played in 15 matches, starting 11. The Kent, Ohio, native is tied for the team lead with four goals and ranks second on the team with nine points. Fischer scored the game-winner in the Buckeyes’ 1-0 win at No. 5 Florida, scored both goals in a 2-1 win at Purdue and assisted on Marissa Birzon’s game-winner at Michigan State.
Vatne has played in 12 matches, making eight starts, and is tied for third on the team with three goals and two assists. A native of Sterling Heights, Mich., Vatne tallied the 15th hat trick in Ohio State history, and the third by a freshman in the win over Morehead State and assisted on Eleanor Gabriel’s game-winner at Illinois.
Baumbick, from Avon Lake, Ohio, has started all 17 matches in the midfield. The junior has scored a pair of goals and played the full match 15 times.
The Buckeyes, who earned the No. 3 seed in the Big Ten Tournament after tallying a 9-5-3 record, including 6-2-3 in conference play, will host No. 6 seed Nebraska in a Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal match at 2 p.m. Sunday at Bert L. & Iris S. Wolstein Field at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
