Big Ten Women’s Soccer Players of the Week announced

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