STATESBORO - Georgia Southern freshman goalkeeper Michaela English has been named the Sun Belt Conference's Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week, announced today by league officials.

English made eight saves, including saving a penalty kick in regulation, in Georgia Southern's 1-0 overtime win over Texas State on Friday evening, her league-leading sixth shutout of the season. The Dacula, Ga., native then made five saves in the Eagles' 1-1 overtime draw with Louisiana on Sunday.

The nation's leader in goalkeeper minutes played with 1,495, English also has recorded a Sun Belt-best 81 saves this season and her 0.78 GAA is tops in the league. Her 81 saves are already the ninth-most in a single season in Georgia Southern women's soccer history, and her six shutouts are tied with Katie Merson (2014) for third-most in a single season.

English is the second Eagle to earn Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week honors this season, joining center back Sade Heinrichs, who was the league's honoree last week. She is the first goalkeeper to earn a weekly honor since Jocelyn Springer was the Sun Belt's Defensive Player of the Week on September 18, 2018.

Georgia Southern is next in action on Friday, hosting Coastal Carolina for a 7 p.m. Sun Belt contest at Eagle Field. It will be Senior Night for the Eagles as they honor eight seniors in a pre-match ceremony.