RENO, Nev. — Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) men's soccer goalkeeper Sawyer Morris was named the Scenic West Athletic Conference (SWAC) Goalkeeper of the Week following an impressive performance against nationally ranked Snow College.

Morris delivered one of his strongest performances of the season against the No. 17-ranked team in the NJCAA, recording 10 saves on 11 shots on goal. The only goal Snow College scored came on a penalty kick following a handball violation inside the box, as Morris otherwise kept the nationally ranked Badgers off the scoreboard throughout the match.

Despite Morris' efforts, the Mighty Lizards ultimately fell 1-0.

For Head Coach Kyle Kelly, Morris' recognition reflects the work he has put in throughout the season and offseason.

"I think this is totally earned and deserved by Sawyer," Kelly said. "He is an extremely hard worker and has an incredible work ethic. He is also a leader for our team and is the voice you can always hear on the pitch, constantly communicating with his teammates. He made some incredible saves against Snow, and he has been putting in the work all season and throughout the offseason. I'm really glad to see him receive the recognition he deserves."

For Morris, earning SWAC Goalkeeper of the Week was an accomplishment he had been working toward since before the season began.

"I'm super happy and grateful to receive this award," Morris said. "It was a goal I set for myself before the season started, so it's really rewarding to see that goal become a reality."

While Morris earned the individual honor, he was quick to credit the players in front of him for helping make his job easier.

"I want to give a lot of credit to my teammates, especially my defenders," Morris said. "They make my job a lot easier and have been a huge part of my success."

Morris also recognized the coaches who have helped him throughout the season and contributed to his development as a goalkeeper.

"I obviously want to thank Coach Kyle, as well as Emiliano Montoya and Brandon Espino, my goalkeeper coaches," Morris said. "They've all helped me improve a lot and have played a big role in my development."

While the physical demands of playing goalkeeper are obvious, Morris said much of his preparation has focused on an aspect of the position that can sometimes be overlooked: the mental side of the game.

"Being a goalkeeper is physically demanding, but I think people don't always realize how mentally demanding it is," Morris said. "You have to stay locked in for the entire game. I've really been working on staying focused throughout matches and becoming mentally stronger."

There was no special routine or secret preparation leading into the matchup with Snow College. For Morris, it was about approaching the game the same way he approaches every other match ,  with a competitive mindset and a desire to help his team win.

"I didn't really do anything special before the game," Morris said. "I just did what I always do. I came in with a competitive mindset. I always want to win, so I just came in ready to compete and do whatever it takes to help us get the win."

Morris' 10-save performance against Snow College provided another example of the impact he has made in goal for the Mighty Lizards this season. His communication, preparation and ability to remain focused under pressure have made him an important leader for the TMCC men's soccer program.

Now, with a SWAC Goalkeeper of the Week honor added to his accomplishments, Morris' work is receiving conference-wide recognition.