PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers field hockey completed a weekend road sweep, downing No. 9 Ohio State and then Michigan State. With the two wins, RU improved to 14-0 and 5-0 in the Big Ten. The Scarlet Knights were recognized by the Big Ten with Puck Winter as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.

Winter had two defensive saves with a defensive save in each game during 2-0 road weekend where RU allowed just one goal in 140 minutes of field hockey. Playing center back, Winter anchored the RU defense, and did not leave the field for the duration of both games.

On Friday, RU faced No. 9 Ohio State on the road, a Buckeyes team that entered the game having scored the most goals (49) in that nation to that point. Through double overtime, an extra 20 minutes of hockey, Winter helped RU to hold OSU scoreless. It marked the only team to shut out Ohio State this season, and only the third time to that point that OSU had been held to under multiple goals scored.

On Sunday, Michigan State's only goal came on a penalty stroke. Winter has eight defensive saves on the year, second most in the nation and five more than the second-place player in the Big Ten. Winter helped stabilize the RU backline that has allowed just 13 goals in 14 games. This marked Winter's second Big Ten award of the season and third of her career.

Prior to this recognition, RU had seen three players earn Big Ten Player of the Week awards: Guillermina Causarano (Offensive, twice), Puck Winter (Defense) and Sophia Howard (Defense).