ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference office announced on Tuesday afternoon that Penn State’s Rocquette Allen earned her fourth Big Ten Freshman of the Week selection.
With her fourth honor this season, Allen is now a member of an eight-woman club that has been named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week at least four times in a year. Along with her are fellow Nittany Lions Madison Carter (6, 2016) and Kristin O’Neill (5, 2021) as well as Madison Taylor (Northwestern, 8, 2023), Izzy Scane (Northwestern, 6, 2019), Kali Hartshorn (Maryland, 5, 2017), Liza Hernandez (Ohio State, 4, 2017) and Megan Whittle (Maryland, 6, 2015). All players but Hernandez eventually went on to win the Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
In the game against the then-No. 3 and now No. 1 team in the country, Allen put on her best performance of the year. Allen netted five goals against what was the third-best scoring defense in the Big Ten while adding an assist. Against the formidable defense and the best goalkeeper in the nation, the freshman shot a spectacular 71.4% while being shadowed by Maryland’s top defender. Three of Allen’s five total goals, all of which were unassisted, came in the last 20 minutes of the contest as the attacker was the driving force behind a ferocious comeback attempt by the Nittany Lions in the second half. Her five goal and six-point effort tied her career-high in both categories and was the most goals allowed and the second-most points against the Terrapins by any player this year.
In addition to her heroics, Allen scored what may be the goal of the year. During the fourth quarter comeback attempt, as she was falling with her back to the net, the freshman shot a no-look, behind the back goal for her fourth of the afternoon. The goal would eventually be featured as the number two play of the day on the SportsCenter Top-10.
During her stellar freshman campaign, Allen has the second-most goals for Penn State with 31 on the year and is one of three Nittany Lions with at least 40 points on the season. She has the second-most goals and points by a freshman in the Big Ten this season. Her 30 goals are the second-best and 41 points are the third-highest by any Power Four freshman.
The Nittany Lions will close out the two-game road trip on Sunday, April 5 at 12 p.m. to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus, Ohio. Penn State next plays at home on April 9th at 8 p.m. against the Oregon Ducks on the Big Ten Network.
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