GREENVILLE, S.C. – Having spearheaded a lights-out effort that led the UNC Pembroke soccer team to a pair of shutouts over Conference Carolinas opponents last week, senior Kennedy Rucker was lauded on Tuesday as the league's defensive player of the week.
 
Rucker, an everyday starter as a central defender for the Black & Gold (14-2-1, 10-1-1 CC) led a defense that posted two shutouts last week, while also limiting opponents to just eight shots per game (4.5 shots on goal allowed/game). The Braves limited Barton to just eight shots, including six that went on target, in a 5-0 home victory over the Bulldogs on Tuesday, and then held Southern Wesleyan to just three shots on goal (8 total shots) in a 6-0 triumph over the Warriors on Saturday.
 
Rucker also netted her first goal of the season on a late-game penalty kick against Southern Wesleyan.
 
One of five seniors on the 2022 squad, Rucker has played in 66 matches (66 starts) over her collegiate career in the Black & Gold, and has registered three goals, including the game-winning, last-seconds score in the Black & Gold's 2-1 double-overtime victory at Francis Marion in 2020.
 
The third-seeded Braves will be back in action again on Saturday when they bunker down to host a Conference Carolinas Tournament quarterfinal bout at Lumbee River EMC Stadium against the winner of Wednesday's opening-round contest between sixth-seeded Emmanuel and seventh-seeded Barton. Saturday's contest in Pembroke is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start.