SPARTANBURG, S.C. --- Chattanooga's Caroline Ekern earned back-to-back shutouts last week and was named the Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week, the league office announced.
 
Ekern has made 12 starts this season with six shutouts on the year. She recorded two saves Friday in the Mocs 1-0 win over Western Carolina on a thrilling goal in the final seconds. Two days later she was back in the net with three saves on seven shots faced for another clean sheet in a draw with ETSU. She halted the Bucs' best attempt at a goal in the late minutes, stretching up and pushing the ball up and off the crossbar.
 
The Knoxville, Tenn., native leads the Southern Conference in shutouts and is tied for 45^th in the NCAA. She is third in the league with a 0.864 goals against average, 81^st in the nation.
 
Ekern has a 7-1-4 overall record and is unbeaten against the SoCon.
 
Chattanooga will be on the road this weekend in the hunt for it's first-ever Southern Conference regular season title. The Mocs will take on Wofford Friday then travel to Greenville, S.C., to face Furman in the regular season finale.