Francis Marion University senior goalkeeper Makayla Willets has been named the Conference Carolinas Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week for the week of Oct. 10-16.

A native of Mastic, N.Y., Willets played all 270 minutes in the Patriots' three matches last week.  She recorded a 0.67 goals against average, allowing only two goals, with 16 saves, while facing 53 shots.

She began the week by posting a season-high 13 saves in a 1-1 tie at 24th-ranked UNC Pembroke.  She followed that with a pair of saves in a narrow 1-0 road loss at Belmont Abbey College, and concluded the week with one save in a 1-0 home win over Southern Wesleyan University – her third shutout of the season.

This is the second time she has garnered this award in 2022, having previously been named for the week of Aug. 29-Sept. 4.

Willets ranks fourth in the conference for save percentage (.765), sixth in saves per match (4.33), and tied for sixth in shutouts (3).

She stands fourth all-time at Francis Marion in saves with 228, only 15 shy of third position.

Francis Marion plays at Converse University on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. before concluding its regular season with a Senior Day match against Erskine College at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 22) on Hartzler Field.

Willets is a product of William Floyd High School.  She is majoring in nursing.


      Makayla Willets