Sept. 15, 2015
Big Ten Release
ROSEMONT, Ill. - Three Penn State Nittany Lions received Big Ten weekly honors, as announced by the conference office Tuesday afternoon. Frannie Crouse (Greensburg, Pa.) was tabbed the Offensive Player of the Week, Britt Eckerstrom (Germantown, Md.) was named the Co-Defensive Player of the Week and Kaleigh Riehl (Fairfax Station, Va.) received Freshman of the Week honors.
This past weekend, the Nittany Lions posted a pair of shutout wins over No. 2 Stanford (2-0) and Santa Clara (1-0).
Crouse, a sophomore, receives her first Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors after tallying a goal and an assist in a 2-0 victory over the No. 2 Stanford Cardinal.
In the 10th minute against the Cardinal, Crouse fired a left-footed shot on goal from about 10 yards out from the left side of the box. Her shot went past a diving Jane Campbell, hit the right post and bounced into the back of the net for her third goal of the season. Crouse's goal in the 10th minute snapped Stanford's shutout streak of roughly 370 minutes.
The Nittany Lions added to the lead in the 66th minute off a Brittany Basinger (Purcellville, Va.) goal. Crouse, one-on-one with a Cardinal defender, passed the ball from near the endline of the right side of the box to Basinger. Basinger, running towards the net, volleyed a shot from about four yards out to give the Nittany Lions a 2-0 lead.
Eckerstrom was named the Co-Defensive Player of the Week after keeping both opposing offenses in check over the weekend, as she tallied a pair of shutout victories. Eckerstrom made four saves against No. 2 Stanford and two saves against Santa Clara. This is her second time receiving Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Riehl, a defender, garners Freshman of the Week honors for the first time after playing all 180 minutes on the Nittany Lion backline. Riehl and the Nittany Lion defense held the opposition to a combined six shots on goal during the west coast trip.
The Nittany Lions return home to Jeffrey Field for a weekend homestand. Penn State opens Big Ten play Thursday, Sept. 17, against Wisconsin at 7 p.m. on BTN and the weekend homestand comes to a close Sunday, Sept. 20, against Minnesota at 1 p.m. on BTN Plus on BTN2Go.