Two Rutgers standouts highlight Big Ten women’s soccer weekly awards

The Big Ten Conference has announced the latest set of weekly awards, which were bestowed to players from Penn State, Michigan State and Rutgers.

Offensive Player of the Week

Sam Coffey, Penn State
Grad. – M – Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. – Masters School – Graduate Study: Intersection of Race, Gender, Sport & Law

• Had a hand in four of Penn State’s five goals in a 5-1 win over Maryland on Oct. 8
• Scored a hat trick in the first half and added an assist, becoming the 50th student-athlete in NCAA Division I history to record 40 goals and 40 assists in her career
• Named a CoSIDA first-team Academic All-American, Senior CLASS Award first-team All-American and All-Big Ten selection last season
• Collects her second career Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week award
• Last Penn State Offensive Player of the Week: Payton Linnehan (August 24, 2021)

Defensive Player of the Week

Becci Fluchel, Rutgers
So. – M – Pittstown, N.J. – North Hunterdon Regional – Major: Undeclared

• Helped Rutgers earn a pair of Big Ten victories and remain unbeaten in conference play at 6-0
• Converted a second-half penalty kick to give RU a 1-0 win over Iowa on Sunday, also aiding the Scarlet Knights in capturing their sixth shutout of the season
• Also paced Rutgers defense in limiting No. 16 Michigan to just seven shots overall and only three on goal
• Secures her second career Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week award
• Last Rutgers Defensive Player of the Week: Allison Lynch (October 5, 2021)

Goalkeeper of the Week

Lauren Kozal, Michigan State
Jr. – Ada, Mich. – Forest Hills Northern – Major: Interpersonal Communication

• Recorded her sixth shutout of the season on Sunday with a 1-0 over Ohio State
• Came up with four saves in the victory, none bigger than on an OSU penalty kick in the 85th minute to preserve the Spartans’ one-goal margin
• Twice earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition (2019, 2020)
• Collects her second career Goalkeeper of the Week award
• Last Michigan State Goalkeeper of the Week: Lauren Kozal (September 21, 2021)

Freshman of the Week

Riley Tiernan, Rutgers
F – Voorhees, N.J. – Eastern Regional – Major: Undeclared

• Tied her career high with four points (goal, two assists), contributing to three of her team’s scores in Rutgers’ 4-1 win over No. 16 Michigan on Oct. 6
• Also scored the match-winning goal against Michigan on a 55th-minute strike
• Added four shots (two on goal) in Sunday’s victory over Iowa, keeping RU atop the conference standings with 18 points (6-0-0 record)
• Collects her second career Freshman of the Week award
• Last Rutgers Freshman of the Week: Kassidy Banks (Sept. 21, 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

Sept. 7
O: Kayla Fischer, Sr., OSU
D: Gabby Provenzano, Sr., RU
GK: Megan Plaschko, Jr., MINN
GK: Jordyn Bloomer, Sr., WIS
F: Jordyn Levy, IND

Sept. 14
O: Paige Webber, Jr., IND
D: Makenzie Langdok, Grad., MINN
GK: Katherine Asman, Jr., PSU
F: Sydney Stephens, ILL
F: Jamie Gerstenberg, IND

Sept. 21
O: Emily Mathews, So., PUR
D: Becci Fluchel, So., RU
GK: Lauren Kozal, JR., MSU
F: Naomi Jackson, ILL
F: Kassidy Banks, RU

Sept. 28
O: Sarah Griffith, Sr., PUR
D: Gabby Provenzano, Sr., RU
GK: Jordyn Bloomer, Sr., WIS
F: Kailyn Dudukovich, OSU

Oct. 5
O: Regan Steigleder, Grad., NU
O: Sarah Griffith, Sr., PUR
D: Allison Lynch, Jr., RU
GK: Hillary Beall, Sr., MICH
F: Jordyn Wickes, MSU

Oct. 12
O: Sam Coffey, Grad., PSU
D: Becci Fluchel, So., RU
GK: Lauren Kozal, Jr., MSU
F: Riley Tiernan, RU