Oct. 21, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Sophomore midfielder Drew Klingenberg (Gibsonia, Pa.) and junior goalkeeper Andrew Wolverton (Atlanta, Ga.) were named Big Ten Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, on Monday afternoon. The duo was vital to Penn State's 2-1 victory over No. 14 Michigan State on Sunday.
Klingenberg was a menace for the Spartan defense as he finished a spectacular goal in the 51st minute to knot the score at one and helped on the game-winner in double-overtime for his first three-point day. The goal was his first collegiate tally as well. On the assist, Klingenberg passed back to Mike Robinson (Lansdale, Pa.) whose lofted long ball found Jordan Tyler (Rochester, Mich.) for Penn State's fourth-straight Big Ten win.
In net, Wolverton was again outstanding as he turned aside nine Michigan State attempts, which was a new career high. Wolverton's prowess between the pipes was most needed in the opening half as he saved five MSU shots before stopping three in the second half and one in the first period of overtime. For Wolverton, the weekly defensive honor is his second of the season.
The Nittany Lions have earned the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honor in three straight weeks. Martin Seiler (Stuttgart, Germany) gathered the accolade last week for his goal against Michigan, while Wolverton was honored for his shutout against Indiana the week before that.
Penn State (9-3-1, 4-0-0) is off to its best start in Big Ten play since 2005 when it finished the regular season 6-0-0 and won the Big Ten Tournament crown. PSU needs a point to claim at least a share of its second straight regular-season title, while a win or two ties gives Penn State an outright Big Ten regular season title.