Swannanoa soccer star nabs ASUN Goalkeeper of the Year honors
Former Owen player CJ Graham flourishes as starter for Lipscomb University
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
December 7, 2021
Former Warlassies soccer player, and current Lipscomb University goalkeeper, CJ Graham, is the ASUN Goalkeeper of the Year after a redshirt freshman season in which she led all NCDAA Division I netminders in shutouts. Photo courtesy of Lipscomb University Athletics
There were undoubtedly some big gloves to fill for CJ Graham when she committed to continue her goalkeeping career at Lipscomb University in 2018. The Bisons program had produced four of the last seven ASUN Goalkeeper of the Year winners before the redshirt freshman stepped between the pipes to open the 2021 season.
The Swannanoa native and former Warlassies standout was up to the challenge.
Graham, a graduate of the Nesbitt Discovery Academy who enjoyed a four-year varsity career with her hometown high school’s varsity soccer program, was the latest Lipscomb netminder to earn ASUN Goalkeeper of the Year honors, after tying a conference record and leading all NCAA Division I goalkeepers with 13 shutouts in her first season as the starter.
With Graham in the net, the Bisons won their third conference championship in four seasons before capturing the ASUN Conference Tournament title. The 15-5-1 team ended its season, Nov. 12, with a loss against No. 3 ranked University of Tennessee in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.
The goalkeeper was named to the ASUN All-Conference First Team and ASUN All-Academic Team. She earned additional recognition as a selection for the United Soccer Coaches All-Region Second Team.
Graham attended Nesbitt, a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) high school in West Asheville that does not include an athletic program. As a resident of the Owen District, she was eligible to play for the Warlassies program, which she helped lead to a combined 20-0 record in the Western Highlands Conference in her junior and senior seasons.
The Bisons goalkeeper recorded shutouts in 9 of her team’s final 12 games in 2021.