PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers field hockey saw two players earn Big Ten Player of the Week accolades after a 2-0 weekend that saw wins over Ohio State and Columbia. Puck Winter was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week and Martha Goodridge was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week.

Rutgers has earned five Big Ten weekly awards through five weeks this season. That is the most in the conference. 

It marks the second Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week award for Puck Winter, and third overall for RU (previously also won once by goalkeeper Emily Nicholls). It marks the first ever Big Ten Freshman of the Week award for Martha Goodridge and second overall freshman weekly award this season for RU (previously won once by goalkeeper Emily Nicholls).

Winter spearheaded a Rutgers defensive effort that held opponents to one goal in 127 minutes of action over the weekend. In RU's 2-1 overtime win over Ohio State in the conference opener, she made two crucial defensive saves in the final minutes of regulation to send the game to overtime, where RU prevailed. Then in a shutout victory over Columbia on Sunday, Winter had five points with two goals and an assist, notching her first multi-goal game since 2023. It is her fourth career defensive Player of the Week award.

Goodridge provided the big moment in RU's overtime win over Ohio State to open league play, as she raced up the field in extra time and blasted home the game winner to put the Scarlet Knights past the Buckeyes. It marked the eighth straight win in the series for RU. On Sunday, she also contributed a goal and an assist in the win over Columbia and now has scored in three of her past four games.

Rutgers resumes Big Ten action this week on the road. RU travels to the state of Michigan to play Michigan State (Friday, 3 pm) and Michigan (Sunday, noon, Big Ten Network).