Sept. 23, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State junior Whitney Church has been named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after putting up a phenomenal performance against Northwestern in each team's conference opener on Friday.
The reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year picks up her first Offensive Player of the Week honor after netting a pair of goals, including the game-winner, in the Nittany Lions' 3-2 double-overtime win against the Wildcats.
Trailing 2-0 with just over 10 minutes remaining in regulation, Church posted her first goal of the season to get the Blue and White on the board at the 79:31 mark. The defender received the ball on a corner kick from teammate Raquel Rodriguez (San Jose, Costa Rica) and headed it in to bring the Lions within one. The MAC Herman Watch List selection then sealed the deal for PSU, firing one in from 20 yards out with less than four minutes remaining in the second overtime period.
The Nittany Lions (7-1-1) return to Jeffrey Field on Thursday to face Purdue on Mack Brady Night in a 7:00 p.m. match-up.