Sept. 23, 2014
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern field hockey senior goalkeeper Maddy Carpenter has been named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week while junior midfielder/forward Kelley Stump has been recognized as the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.
Both individuals played huge roles in helping the Wildcats to victories over No. 2 Maryland on Friday and Ball State on Sunday. At No. 2, Maryland is the highest-ranked opponent Northwestern has been on record going back through the 1996 season.
Carpenter, a native of Wilbraham, Mass., earned her fourth career conference Player of the Week honor. She was tremendous in the 3-2 victory over Maryland, making a season-high eight saves. The senior made six saves in shutting out the Terrapins over the opening half of play. Carpenter stood her ground despite Maryland accumulating 23 shots and 12 penalty corners in the contest.
She played the first half in goal the following day against Ball State, making one save to earn another victory.
A native of Allentown, Pa., Stump picked a fine time for the top performance of her Northwestern career on Saturday, playing a role in all three goals. Her shot on goal late in the first half was stopped by the leg of a Maryland defender, earning NU a penalty stroke that Lisa McCarthy converted upon. The match was tied 1-1 early in the second half after Maryland scored when Stump responded 73 seconds later to give the 'Cats the lead back. Things were tied again, 2-2, with under five minutes left in the second half when Stump scored her second of the match to put Northwestern in front for good.
It marked the second multi-goal game of the season and her career. She notched two shots on goal the following day in the Wildcats' victory over Ball State.
Northwestern (6-3, 1-0 B1G) is ranked No. 13 in this week's Penn Monto/NFHCA poll and returns to action at home this weekend, taking on Rutgers at 3 p.m. Friday and No. 17 Indiana at noon Sunday.
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