EVANSTON, Ill. — Junior Kayla Blas earned Big Ten Conference Field Hockey Defensive Player of the Week honors for her efforts in helping Northwestern to a weekend sweep of Indiana. The nod is Blas' first Big Ten Player of the Week award.
Defensive Player of the Week
Kayla Blas, Northwestern
B – Jr. – Pendleton, N.Y. – Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart
• Held the backline for the Wildcats as they blanked the Hoosiers last weekend
• Led a Northwestern defense that allowed only five shots and three on goal over two games
• Her strong defensive efforts helped the 'Cats earn their first back-to-back shutouts since 2015
• Claims her first career Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week award
• Last Northwestern Defensive Player of the Week: Florien Marcussen (Sept. 30, 2019)
Offensive Player of the Week
Bree Bednarski, Penn State
F – Sr. – Wyoming, Pa. – Wyoming Area
• Registered four points via a goal and two assists as the Nittany Lions went 1-1 against Maryland at home last weekend
• Assisted on Penn State's first goal on Friday by taking the penalty corner that led to Anna Simon's goal in the team's 3-0 shutout victory
• Had a goal and an assist in a 3-2 loss against the Terrapins on Sunday
• Earns her first career Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honor
• Last Penn State Offensive Player of the Week: Abby Myers (Nov. 4, 2019)
Freshman of the Week
Liz-Elaine Stange, Rutgers
Fr. – Hamburg, Germany – Carl-Von-Ossietzky Gymnasium
• Tallied four points in Rutgers' 2-0 weekend against Michigan State at home
• Posted the opening goal during the 2-0 win against the Spartans on Friday
• Netted a goal in the 59th minute on Sunday in Rutgers' 5-1 win
• Earns her first Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor
• Last Rutgers Freshman of the Week: Bridy Molyneaux (March 8, 2021)
2020-21 Big Ten Field Hockey Players of the Week
March 1
O: Peyton Halsey, So., NU
D: Gianna Glatz, Sr., RU
F: Maddie Zimmer, NU
March 8
O: Riley Donnelly, Jr., MD
D: Anthe Nijziel, Jr., IOWA
F: Bridy Molyneaux, RU
March 16
O: Bree Bednarski, Sr., PSU
D: Kayla Blas, Jr., NU
F: Liz-Elaine Stange, RU
Defensive Player of the Week
Kayla Blas, Northwestern
B – Jr. – Pendleton, N.Y. – Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart
• Held the backline for the Wildcats as they blanked the Hoosiers last weekend
• Led a Northwestern defense that allowed only five shots and three on goal over two games
• Her strong defensive efforts helped the 'Cats earn their first back-to-back shutouts since 2015
• Claims her first career Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week award
• Last Northwestern Defensive Player of the Week: Florien Marcussen (Sept. 30, 2019)
Offensive Player of the Week
Bree Bednarski, Penn State
F – Sr. – Wyoming, Pa. – Wyoming Area
• Registered four points via a goal and two assists as the Nittany Lions went 1-1 against Maryland at home last weekend
• Assisted on Penn State's first goal on Friday by taking the penalty corner that led to Anna Simon's goal in the team's 3-0 shutout victory
• Had a goal and an assist in a 3-2 loss against the Terrapins on Sunday
• Earns her first career Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honor
• Last Penn State Offensive Player of the Week: Abby Myers (Nov. 4, 2019)
Freshman of the Week
Liz-Elaine Stange, Rutgers
Fr. – Hamburg, Germany – Carl-Von-Ossietzky Gymnasium
• Tallied four points in Rutgers' 2-0 weekend against Michigan State at home
• Posted the opening goal during the 2-0 win against the Spartans on Friday
• Netted a goal in the 59th minute on Sunday in Rutgers' 5-1 win
• Earns her first Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor
• Last Rutgers Freshman of the Week: Bridy Molyneaux (March 8, 2021)
2020-21 Big Ten Field Hockey Players of the Week
March 1
O: Peyton Halsey, So., NU
D: Gianna Glatz, Sr., RU
F: Maddie Zimmer, NU
March 8
O: Riley Donnelly, Jr., MD
D: Anthe Nijziel, Jr., IOWA
F: Bridy Molyneaux, RU
March 16
O: Bree Bednarski, Sr., PSU
D: Kayla Blas, Jr., NU
F: Liz-Elaine Stange, RU