Sophia Howard Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week
Sep 18 | Field Hockey
Goalkeeper from Unbeaten Field Hockey Team Earns Big Ten Award
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Following a stellar week for Rutgers' field hockey, goalkeeper Sophia Howard was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, the conference office announced on Monday. The Scarlet Knights goalkeeper posted back-to-back shutouts as RU claimed wins over No. 12 Penn State and La Salle.
The native of Auckland, New Zealand earned her first career Big Ten Player of the Week award. It was RU's second straight week being recognized in the Defensive Player of the Week award from the Big Ten, as back Puck Winter earned the accolade the week prior.
Howard was a standout in the Penn State game, keeping the Nittany Lions off the board despite PSU having 16 shots and 8 corners. She made seven saves, her second most stops of the year. It was the only time Penn State has been shut out this season and just one of two times through eighth games that Penn State hasn't scored multiple goals in a game.
Howard had her second shutout of the weekend by blanking La Salle, the first time in eight games that La Salle had been blanked all season.
The redshirt junior is currently second in the nation and leads the Big Ten with a save percentage of .848. She is third in both the country and conference with a goals-against-average of 0.56.
Rutgers is off to an 8-0 start, the best mark in program history. The Scarlet Knights' next game comes Sunday at UMass.
The native of Auckland, New Zealand earned her first career Big Ten Player of the Week award. It was RU's second straight week being recognized in the Defensive Player of the Week award from the Big Ten, as back Puck Winter earned the accolade the week prior.
Howard was a standout in the Penn State game, keeping the Nittany Lions off the board despite PSU having 16 shots and 8 corners. She made seven saves, her second most stops of the year. It was the only time Penn State has been shut out this season and just one of two times through eighth games that Penn State hasn't scored multiple goals in a game.
Howard had her second shutout of the weekend by blanking La Salle, the first time in eight games that La Salle had been blanked all season.
The redshirt junior is currently second in the nation and leads the Big Ten with a save percentage of .848. She is third in both the country and conference with a goals-against-average of 0.56.
Rutgers is off to an 8-0 start, the best mark in program history. The Scarlet Knights' next game comes Sunday at UMass.
Players Mentioned
GK
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