University Park, Pa. — Senior defender Andy Parr (Hummelstown, Pa.) has been named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, the conference office announced on Monday (Oct. 11). The league award is the first of Parr’s career and marks the second time this season a Nittany Lion has been recognized by the Big Ten after senior midfielder Matheus Braga (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) won offensive player of the week honors on Sept. 20.
Inserted into the starting line-up last week, Parr highlighted Penn State’s defensive efforts in a 1-0 win over Big East leader Villanova and a 2-1 upset of No. 18 Michigan State.
Versus Villanova, the Hummelstown, Pa. native anchored a back line that allowed the Wildcats just three second half shots and three total shots on goal en route to Penn State’s fifth shutout of the season.
Against Michigan State, Parr demonstrated his toughness, playing all 90 minutes with a bandage wrapped around his head covering a gash on his forehead suffered in the previous game. He was a major factor in helping to limit Michigan State, the Big Ten’s No. 2-ranked scoring offense, to half its season average shot total (6) and to one goal.
Parr has seen action in 54 career games, making 43 starts. Overcoming a serious knee injury that cost him part of the 2007 and the entirety of the 2008 season, Parr made a strong return in 2009, helping Penn State win 12 games, advance to the Big Ten Tournament final, and earn the No. 7 seed in the NCAA Championship.
Also a standout in the classroom, Parr is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten and 2009 ESPN The Magazine Second Team Academic All-District honoree. He currently boasts a 3.90 grade point average in Actuarial Science.
Penn State fell in double overtime, 2-1, to No.1 Akron on Wednesday (Oct. 13) night at Jeffrey Field. Penn State returns to Big Ten competition and to the road this weekend, traveling to Evanston, Ill. to clash with Northwestern (6-4-1, 1-1-0) on Sunday, Oct. 17 at 2 p.m. ET. The Lions have dominated the series with the Wildcats, winning 21 of 26 games.
