Aug. 24, 2009
PARK RIDGE, Ill. - Senior goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher (Seymour, Conn.) and freshman defender Lexi Marton (Aurora, Ontario) each earned Big Ten weekly awards as announced by the conference on Monday afternoon. Naeher was tabbed the Defensive Player of the Week, while Marton was the first-ever Freshman of the Week.
Naeher and Marton were instrumental in shutting down Virginia's offense during the Nittany Lions' 1-0 win on Friday. Naeher's four first-half saves keyed the victory including a couple of point-blank shots to preserve the shut out.
The senior captain earns her first player of the week nod since Oct. 20, 2008 and her fourth overall. Jessie Davis (Oct. 28, 2008) was the last Nittany Lion to garner Defensive Player of the Week honors).
Marton started and played all 90 minutes of the 1-0 win over Virginia, the only freshman to do so for Penn State. The freshman central defender keyed the Nittany Lions' ninth-straight home-opening win and the first shutout in the home opener since a 3-0 win over George Mason.
Penn State will be back in action on Saturday when they face West Virginia at Jeffrey Field for the Penn State Invitational. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m., while Connecticut and Brigham Young open the proceedings at 5:00 p.m.
For complete coverage of all the Nittany Lion women's soccer this season, go to www.GoPSUsports.com/sports/w-soccer.
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--NITTANY LIONS--