Oct. 15, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Brittany Grzywacz (Collegeville, Pa.) has been named the Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week with Michigan State's Jenni Smith. The reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year has now garnered the honor five times in the past three seasons.
Grzywacz led the Nittany Lions to a 2-0 record over the weekend, extending field hockey's win streak to nine-straight matches. Grzywacz scored her team-leading eighth and ninth goals of the season on Friday in the 6-1 win over Big Ten foe Ohio State. The two scores represent the Collegeville, Pa. native's first multi-goal performance of the season. On Sunday, Grzywacz assisted on both Penn State goals, setting up the 2-0 win over Bucknell.
The senior was part of a defense that allowed just one goal in 140 minutes of action. The shutout win over Bucknell marks the defense's sixth shutout on the season for an average of 0.46 per match, which ranks Penn State second in the nation for the category.
This week's award marks the fifth-straight week Penn State has had one of its athletes named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. Grzywacz has claimed the honor three times and Laura Gebhart (Mount Joy, Pa.) and Kylie Licata (Mountain Top, Pa.) have also received the recognition this season.
Grzywacz and the team will host Michigan State in the Nittany Lion's final home match of the season on Saturday. The two teams are the only remaining unbeaten teams in the Big Ten, with both teams entering the matchup with 3-0 records in conference play. The match will be Senior Day, as the program honors its eight seniors. The contest is scheduled to begin at noon.