PARK RIDGE, Ill. - Penn State All-American Christie Welsh (Massapequa Park, N.Y.) earned Big Ten Women's Soccer Player-of-the-Week honors, Conference officials announced on Monday.
The sophomore forward led PSU to three victories last week. In the Big Ten opening 4-0 win over Indiana on Friday, the forward netted her fifth career hat trick (second this season), including the game-winning goal. Her second and third tallies were just 16 seconds apart, rewriting two PSU records for quickest time between two PSU goals and quickest time between two goals by the same player.
In Sunday's 2-1 win over Purdue, Welsh scored the tying goal and assisted on the game-winner. For the week, Welsh netted four goals and an assist while helping the Nittany Lions to a perfect 2-0 Big Ten record. The Conference wins extended PSU's unbeaten streak in Big Ten regular-season games to 12 with 11 consecutive wins.
After 11 contests, Welsh leads the Lions in scoring with 10 goals, five assists, and 25 points. She has 69 shots, more than double that of the next Lion. Among all Big Ten players, Welsh is first in points and goals.
The Conference honor is the third of Welsh's collegiate career. Last season, Welsh earned Big Ten Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors while earning the weekly honor twice.
The only undefeated team remaining in Conference play, the No. 7 Nittany Lions (8-2-1, 2-0 Big Ten) hit the road for the first time in Conference play this week. On Friday, Sept. 29, PSU visits Minnesota (3-5, 1-2) for a 7 p.m. CT match. The Lions then head to Wisconsin (7-3, 3-1) on Sunday, Oct. 1 for a 1 p.m. CT battle. PSU returns home on Friday, Oct. 6 to host Illinois. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Jeffrey Field.