Oct. 21, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Senior Maya Hayes (West Orange, N.J.) has been named the Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week, along with Michigan's Nkem Ezurike, for her performances against Ohio State and Illinois this past week. The reigning Big Ten Forward of the Year has now collected the honor eight times in the past three seasons.
Hayes amassed six points over the week, leading the Blue and White to back-to-back Big Ten wins. The forward found the back of the net twice against OSU on Thursday, sending in the game-winner in the 55th minute and adding another tally in the 58th minute. She then went on to score in the Lions' 5-0 shutout against Illinois on Sunday.
Hayes has pushed her goal total to 16 this season and has added five assists for a Big Ten-leading 37 points. The two-time NSCAA All-American leads all active players in Division I women's soccer in career goals and points, having amassed 68 goals and 20 assists for a total of 156 points.
This week's award marks the fourth time this season that Penn State has had one of its athletes named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week. Hayes has claimed the award twice while Raquel Rodriguez (San Jose, Costa Rica) and Whitney Church (Ashburn, Va.) have also been selected.
The Nittany Lions return to action this weekend, traveling west to take on Iowa and Big Ten frontrunner, Nebraska. PSU will meet the Hawkeyes on Friday at 8:00 p.m. (EST) before facing the Corn Huskers on Sunday in a 2:00 p.m. match-up.