Big Ten Women’s Soccer Players of the Week announced
![rutgers-big-ten](https://www.soccerwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rutgers-big-ten.jpeg)
The Big Ten Conference has revealed the women’s soccer Players of the Week following the second week of Fall 2021 competition.
Co-Offensive Player of the Week
Sarah Griffith, Purdue
Sr. – F – Naperville, Ill. – Waubonsie Valley – Major: Psychological Sciences
• Scored a hat trick in Purdue’s 5-1 victory over visiting Ball State on Sunday afternoon
• Recorded the sixth three-goal outing in program history and first since 2017
• Named an Academic All-Big Ten honoree last season
• Earns her first career Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week award
• Last Purdue Offensive Player of the Week: Nicole Kevdzija (March 9, 2021)
Co-Offensive Player of the Week
Frankie Tagliaferri, Rutgers
Sr. – F – Colts Neck, N.J. – Colts Neck – Graduate Program: School of Arts and Sciences
• Collected two goals and an assist in Rutgers’ 5-1 win at home over Providence on Sunday
• Tallied a career-high five points and matched her career best with her eighth two-goal performance
• A three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection (2018, 2019, 2020) and a two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2018, 2020)
• Captures her third career Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week plaudit
• Last Rutgers Offensive Player of the Week: Amirah Ali (Feb. 23, 2021)
Defensive Player of the Week
Nicole Kevdzija, Purdue
So. – D – Strongsville, Ohio – Strongsville – Major: Electrical Engineering
• Played a pivotal role in Purdue’s two wins last week, helping the Boilermakers knock off previously unbeaten Gonzaga and Ball State
• Scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win over Gonzaga on Aug. 26 (Purdue’s first shutout this season), then assisted on Sarah Griffith’s third goal in Sunday’s victory over Ball State
• Secures her first career Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week award (named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week on March 9, 2021)
• Last Purdue Defensive Player of the Week: Maya Lambert (March 16, 2021)
Goalkeeper of the Week
Sami Hauk, Nebraska
So. – Argyle, Texas – Denton Guyer – Majors: Sports Management and Journalism
• Started both of Nebraska’s matches on the road last week, allowing just one goal and making 17 combined saves
• Had a career-high nine saves and did not give up a goal on Sunday at Oklahoma before leaving with an injury in the final minute of regulation
• Recorded eight saves in a complete-game win at Baylor on Aug. 26
• Earns her second career Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week award
• Last Nebraska Goalkeeper of the Week: Sami Hauk (Aug. 24, 2021)
Freshman of the Week
Riley Tiernan, Rutgers
F – Voorhees, N.J. – Eastern Regional – Major: Undeclared
• Dished out the first three assists of her career in Rutgers’ 5-1 win over visiting Providence on Sunday
• Finished with the second-most assists in a single match in program history and one off the Big Ten record
• Collects her first career Freshman of the Week accolade
• Last Rutgers Freshman of the Week: Sam Kroeger (Feb. 23, 2021)
2021 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Honorees
Aug. 24
O: Payton Linnehan, Jr., PSU
D: Sara Wheaton, Sr., IOWA
GK: Sami Hauk, So., NEB
F: Kenzie Roling, IOWA
Aug. 31
O: Sarah Griffith, Sr., PUR
O: Frankie Tagliaferri, Sr., RU
D: Nicole Kevdzija, So., PUR
GK: Sami Hauk, So., NEB
F: Riley Tiernan, RU