Caroline Casey certainly did not look like a player backstopping her first game of the season Sunday. (Andy Mead/YCJ Photo)

Sky Blue FC goalkeeper Caroline Casey, who held off the first-place Carolina Courage for most of the match, was named FrontRowSoccer.com’s player of the week.

Casey, who made six saves in a 1-1 draw in her first start of the season in Piscataway, N.J. Sunday, was honored for the week ending Sunday, Sept. 24.

The goalkeeper made some key stops in the early going of the National Women’s Soccer League game, including a spectacular save in the 22nd minute. Lynn Williams carried possession down the left flank before cutting inside and delivering a feed to Denise O’Sullivan in the center of the box. O’Sullivan one-timed a hard shot on frame that Casey punched away with a diving save.

Casey also came up big in the 86th minute. After Williams acquired the ball on the left flank, she ran on goal into a 1 v 1 situation with Casey. As she approached the six-yard box, Williams fired a point-blank shot, but Casey made another save.

Sky Blue FC will meet the Boston Breakers in its regular-season finale Saturday.

FrontRowSoccer.com player of the week winners

Week 1 (March 6) — Joseph Bendik (Orlando City SC)

Week 2 (March 13) — David Villa (New York City FC)

Week 3 (March 20) — Rodney Wallace (New York City FC)

Week 4 (March 27) — Vincent Bezecourt (New York Red Bulls II)

Week 5 (April 3) — Ronald Matarrita (New York City FC)

Week 6 (April 10) — Jimmy Maurer (New York Cosmos)

Week 7 (April 17) — Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls)

Week 8 (April 24) — Alex Muyl (New York Red Bulls)

Week 9 (May 1) — Jack Harrison (New York City FC)

Week 10 (May 8) — Rodney Wallace (New York City FC)

Week 11 (May 15) — Sam Kerr (Sky Blue FC)

Week 12 (May 22) — David Villa (New York City FC)

Week 13 (May 29) — Kemar Lawrence (New York Red Bulls)

Week 14 (June 5) — Alex Callens and Maxime Chanot (New York City FC)

Week 15 (June 12) — No award given

Week 16 (June 19) — Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls), David Villa (New York City FC)

Week 17 (June 26) — Ben Sweat (New York City FC)

Week 18 (July 3) — Sam Kerr (Sky Blue FC)

Week 19 (July 10) — Sam Kerr (Sky Blue FC)

Week 20 (July 17) — Eric Calvillo (New York Cosmos)

Week 21 (July 24) — Daniel Royer (New York Red Bulls)

Week 22 (July 31) — Eric Calvillo (New York Cosmos)

Week 23 (Aug. 7) — David Villa (New York City FC)

Week 24 (Aug. 14) — Sean Johnson (New York City FC)

Week 25 (Aug. 21) — Sam Kerr (Sky Blue FC)

Week 26 (Aug. 28) — Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls)

Week 27 (Sept. 4) — Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls)

Week 28 (Sept. 11) — Sean Johnson (New York City FC)

Week 29 (Sept. 18) — Javi Marquez (New York Cosmos)

Week 30 (Sept. 25) — Caroline Casey (Sky Blue FC)

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.