Big Ten awards Penn State, Minnesota and Nebraska players with weekly honors

The Big Ten Conference has revealed the latest set of weekly Players of the Week for the Spring 2021 season.

See below for this week’s honorees, including: Offensive Player of the Week Frankie Tagliaferri (Penn State), Defensive Player of the Week
Katie Koker (Minnesota), Goalkeeper of the Week Makinzie Short (Nebraska) and Freshman of the Week Gwen Lane (Nebraska).

Offensive Player of the Week
Frankie Tagliaferri, Penn State
Sr. – F – Colts Neck, N.J. – Colts Neck – Major: Kinesiology-Movement Science

• Had a hand in all six of Penn State’s scores (two goals, four assists) in the Nittany Lions’ 6-0 win over Maryland on April 3
• Tied a Big Ten record with her four assists (a mark she shares with three others), becoming the first conference player with multiple four-assist games
• Her eight points tied for sixth in Big Ten history and were the most by a conference player since Aug. 25, 2019 (eight points by Michigan State’s Gia Wahlberg)
• Received Academic All-Big Ten honors the past three seasons and was named a 2018-19 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar
• Earns her second career Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week award
• Last Penn State Offensive Player of the Week: Frankie Tagliaferri (March 30, 2021)

Defensive Player of the Week
Katie Koker, Minnesota
Jr. – D – Racine, Wis. – The Prairie School – Major: Finance

• Came off bench to play pivotal role on Minnesota’s backline in 1-1 draw with Wisconsin on April 3
• Made sliding goal-line save late in the second overtime to preserve the tie for the Golden Gophers
• Garnered Academic All-Big Ten mention earlier this season
• Secures her second career Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week award
• Last Minnesota Defensive Player of the Week: Delaney Stekr (March 30, 2021)

Goalkeeper of the Week
Makinzie Short, Nebraska
So. – Erie, Colo. – Peak to Peak Charter School – Major: Marketing

• Recorded her fourth shutout this season, anchoring Nebraska’s 1-0 win over Iowa on April 3
• Made four saves in the victory, giving her 32 stops this season (3.20/game; ninth in the Big Ten)
• Helped the Huskers to their first win over the Hawkeyes since Oct. 26, 2016 (also a 1-0 victory in Lincoln)
• Earns her first career Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week award
• Last Nebraska Goalkeeper of the Week: Aubrei Corder (Oct. 2, 2018)

Freshman of the Week
Gwen Lane, Nebraska
F – Lincoln, Neb. – Southwest – Major: Pre-Health

• Netted the lone goal in the 23rd minute of Nebraska’s 1-0 victory over Iowa on April 3
• Converted a rebound off a missed Husker shot for her first career goal
• Lifted Nebraska to its first win over Iowa in more than four years
• Collects her first career Freshman of the Week accolade
• Last Nebraska Freshman of the Week: Theresa Pujado (Oct. 10, 2017)