PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers field hockey claimed the team's first Big Ten award of the season as Puck Winter was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week. The native of The Netherlands excelled for RU on both ends of the field in a 2-0 week for the Scarlet Knights that included the team's first conference win of the season at Michigan State.

In Friday's road win at Michigan State, she scored her first collegiate goal with 5:15 remaining in the fourth quarter to equalize the game at 2-2. Then in overtime, she had an integral defensive save in overtime to keep the contest alive, allowing RU to win to improve to 1-0 in Big Ten play.

Winter played every minute in both games, as RU earned wins at Michigan State and over Delaware. RU has now won five of its last six games, including two ranked wins in that span. The win over Delaware was Rutgers' most goals since scoring five versus Richmond in the second game of last season.

A native of Deventer, Netherlands, Winter has started every game this season at back. She has one goal, one assist and a team-high two defensive saves on the year.

Winter becomes the fourth RU student-athlete to earn a Big Ten Freshman of the Week award in the last two seasons. Last season, RU earned five Big Ten Freshman of the Week awards: Iris Langejans (twice), Lucy Bannatyne (twice) and Guillermina Causarano.

Winter and the Scarlet Knights are back in action this week at home, with two Big Ten games at Bauer Field. RU welcomes in Ohio State on Friday at 3 p.m. and then hosts Michigan on Sunday at noon.