Oct. 23, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State field hockey junior Brittany Grzywacz (Collegeville, Pa.) has received Big Ten weekly honors for the first time this season, the conference office announced Tuesday afternoon. The defender, who plays as both a midfielder and at back, was named the Defensive Player of the Week after scoring her 10th goal of the season against No. 24 Ohio State and leading the squad to a shutout. This is the second weekly honor of Grzywacz's career, as she earned the title in 2011.
Grzywacz is the epitome of a well-rounded, adaptable player, playing consistently strong defensive while putting up 21 points this season. The junior recorded her 50th career point against the Buckeyes, sitting at 22 goals and six assists in her three years as a Nittany Lion. A two-time Second Team All-Big Ten honoree, she has scored in 10 of 16 contests in 2012 and has gone four-for-four in penalty strokes.
Stepping up in the backfield, Grzywacz has recorded five defensive saves to lead the Big Ten. Her aggressive style of play has helped hold opponents to only 25 goals, 157 shots and 66 penalty corners. In comparison, the Lions have notched 70 goals, 362 shots and 153 penalty corners.
Throughout her career, Grzywacz has earned NFHCA First Team All-Region (2011) and NFHCA Second Team All-Region (2010), and was named to the 2010 Big Ten All-Tournament Team, as well. Proving that she excels on both the field and in the classroom, the junior was named a 2011 All-Big Ten Academic.
Grzywacz and the rest of the Nittany Lions host Bucknell on Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 6 p.m. for the final home game of the season. No. 5 Penn State will then travel to No. 21 Michigan State on Saturday, Oct. 27, for a noon contest. This Big Ten matchup will conclude the 2012 regular season.
The 2012 Big Ten Tournament will be hosted by the University of Iowa at Grant Field in Iowa City, Iowa. The first two rounds will be held Nov. 1-2, while the championship game will be played Nov. 4.
Check back to GoPSUSports.com for continued updates during the 2012 season. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/PennStateFH and like us on Facebook at facebook.com/pennstatefieldhockey.