University Park, Pa. — Penn State field hockey goalkeeper Ayla Halus (Hershey, Pa.) has been named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, her second conference recognition of the season. Halus posted her fifth consecutive shutout period against West Chester in the 3-1 victory before leaving the cage to Ali Meves (Lower Gwynedd, Pa).
Halus’s three-game performance this week was nothing short of perfection in Penn State’s three victories over Lafayette, Temple, and West Chester. Halus denied all six shots she faced in the 3-0 victory over Lafayette on Wednesday, including a sequence of three straight saves off a penalty corner late in the game. Halus then delivered her second shutout of the week in the Nittany Lions’ victory against Temple on Saturday. Halus capped off the week with her fifth scoreless half against West Chester on Sunday. She made four saves in Penn State’s 3-1 victory over the Golden Rams. The Hershey, Pa., native made 13 saves with zero goals allowed in 175 minutes of action during the week.
Halus last earned the honor Sept. 6 when she posted 12 saves in the team’s tight loss to No. 5 Connecticut.
Halus and the Nittany Lions return home this week for the premier of Big Ten play.
Penn State will host Indiana Friday at 6 p.m. and Michigan Sunday at 1 p.m. The clash against the Wolverines will be broadcast live from the Field Hockey Complex on the Big Ten Network.