Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Tillett, Barnard Named C-USA Players of the Week
9/10/2018 3:05:00 PM | Women's Soccer
IRVING, Texas. – Following two 4-0 shutouts of Valpo and Western Carolina last weekend the Middle Tennessee soccer team picked up two C-USA Player of the Week honors. Hannah Tillett has been named C-USA Offensive Player of the Week and Celeste Barnard has been named C-USA Goalkeeper of the Week by the conference office. This is Blue Raider soccer's first C-USA Offensive Player of the Week award since the 2014 season and the first time MT has received two C-USA weekly honors since 2015.
Hannah TIllett continued her freshman tear this weekend, racking up eight points and four goals in MT's two shutout wins. On Friday against Valpo, Tillett connected on a penalty kick. She is now a perfect, 3-3 on penalty kicks this season. The goal ended up being the game winner over the Crusaders while she also led the team in shots with five. Then on Sunday, Tillett again paced the team in shots with four. Three of those shots were goals as the freshman recorded her first career hat trick and the first hat trick for the Blue Raiders since the 2012 season. Her first goal of the night was again the game winner against the Catamounts, coming in just the 16th minute of the contest. Tillett now leads MT and C-USA in goals with seven and points with 18. She also ranks in the top five in the country in points per game (2.57), goals per game (1.00), total points (18) and total goals (7).
"Hannah was instrumental in both wins this weekend," said Head Coach Aston Rhoden. "For her to get this recognition as a freshman is awesome especially given the strong players in our league."
Celeste Barnard was lights out in net for the Blue Raiders in the two home games this weekend. The senior recorded two shutout wins, playing all but eight minutes in goal, but starting both. She made seven saves on the weekend and including one incredible save in each game. On Friday, Valpo was awarded a penalty kick and Barnard came up with the save, blocking the hard hit it shot and pouncing on the rebound. Then on Sunday, she made a diving leap to tip the ball up and off the crossbar just before halftime versus Western Carolina. She is now a perfect 4-0 on the year with the last three wins all being 4-0 shutouts. Barnard is up to 11 saves on the year with a 0.76 goals against average.
"Celeste was very good this weekend and kept us in both games," Rhoden said. "It's good to see her hard work paying off with this Player of the Week recognition."
With the victory, the Blue Raiders improved to 5-2 on the season to close out the non-conference portion of the schedule.
MT will open up the conference slate on Sunday, Sept. 16 when the squad hosts UTSA at 1 p.m.
