PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers field hockey back Puck Winter was recognized by the NFHCA as the national Defensive Player of the Week, the organization announced on Wednesday. Winter, a two-time Big Ten weekly award winner, earns her first career national weekly recognition.

The Scarlet Knights went 2-0 last weekend, earning road wins at No. 9 Ohio State and at Michigan State. With the victories, RU stretched their record to 14-0 overall and 5-0 in Big Ten play, including a 10-0 mark away from home.

Winter keyed the defensive effort that played 140 minutes of hockey and allowed just one goal, which came on a penalty stroke. On Friday, RU blanked at Buckeyes team that entered the game leading the nation in goals, doing so through double-overtime. Winter had two defensive saves on the weekend and is second in the nation with eight defensive saves on the year. She is not only first in the Big Ten in the stat category, but has five more than the second place person.

Winter is the second RU player to earn a national weekly award this season. Guillermina Causarano was named the NFHCA National Defensive Player of the Week earlier this month.

RU is back home this weekend for two Big Ten games. The Scarlet Knights host Indiana Friday (3 pm, Senior Day, BTN) and then No. 1 Northwestern Sunday (11 a.m., Letterwinners Day).