March 3, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Junior defender Margo Josephs (Reisterstown, Md.) has been named ALC Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in her career, the conference office announced on Tuesday morning.
Josephs has been a veteran linchpin of what has been a dominant Nittany Lion defense thus far this season. Through its first three games, Penn State is allowing an average of just six goals per game. Versus Colgate on Sunday, Josephs spearheaded a defensive unit that caused 11 of 15 total Raider turnover and held it to just 17 shots for the game. The Reisterstown, Md. native led PSU with three caused turnovers and added two ground balls. Through the season's first two weeks, Josephs has recorded four caused turnovers, good enough for second on the team, three ground balls, and two draw controls.
In 2008, Josephs started 10 of 15 games, leading the team in caused turnovers with 25 and finishing second in ground balls (21). She earned her first two career assists in Penn State's second round ALC Championship match-up with Northwestern.
Penn State will place its first game ever versus a Northeast Conference opponent tonight when it hosts Mount St. Mary's (0-3) at Holuba Hall in a 6:30 p.m. match-up.
The Nittany Lions will then make their first road trip of the season to face their first ranked opponent in 2009 this weekend when they travel to Charlottesville, Va. to meet ACC powerhouse No. 2 Virginia (4-0). The game is scheduled for a noon start on Sun., March 8 at the home of the Cavaliers, Klockner Stadium. Penn State possess a 4-15 record in all-time games versus Virginia and has lost three straight in the series, including last year's 13-7 setback in University Park.