UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State field hockey forward Kelsey Amy (Sweet Valley, Pa.) and goalkeeper Ayla Halus (Hershey, Pa.) have received Big Ten weekly honors, the conference office announced Tuesday (Aug. 27). After helping the Nittany Lions earn wins over No. 3 Old Dominion and No. 8 Virginia, Amy was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week while Halus was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.
Amy scored the game-winning goal in the 5-2 victory over the Monarchs, bringing her game-total points to four and weekend shot-total to eight. She currently leads the squad in shots and points. This is the fourth time in her collegiate career that Amy has been named Offensive Player of the Week, earning the honor twice in 2010 and once in 2011. The team veteran also was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week twice in 2009.
Halus had a stellar weekend for Penn State, recording a total of 11 saves during 140 minutes of action. She currently boasts a 2.00 GAA and a .733 save percentage. The fifth-year senior faced four penalty corners against ODU, allowing the Monarchs to score on only two. She faced five in the second period against Virginia, allowing only two goals. Halus also had an excellent save on a penalty stroke during the second period against the Cavaliers. Five of her six saves during the Virginia contest were in the second period, as well. This is Halus’ sixth time receiving Big Ten honors. The netminder was named Defensive Player of the Week four times in 2010 and once last season.
Both Nittany Lions were named to the BTN Players to Watch List for the 2012 season. Amy and Halus were also both named to the 2011 National Academic Squad, earned First Team All-Big Ten, earned NFHCA All-Mideast Region First Team and both were Big Ten All-Academics. The forward was named a First Team NFHCA All-American, while the goalkeeper was named a Second Team NFHCA All-American.
Amy was named the Big Ten Tournament MVP, a CoSIDA District II Academic All-American and a Capitol One At Large Third Team Academic All-American last season. The returning leading-point scorer racked up 25 goals and seven points for 57 points during the 2011 season and recorded four game-winning goals. After taking 250 shots so far in her career, the senior has 52 goals and 12 assists for 116 points, as well as 11 game-winning goals. Amy also boasts a .540 shot on goal percentage. Last season, she led the team in points, goals, shots and shots on goal, and co-led the Big Ten in points and goals.
After a remarkable 2011 season, Halus came away with a 1.56 GAA and a .742 save percentage after 1432 minutes of play. The co-captain of the squad went 17-6 with four shutouts and only 32 goals against. So far in her career, Halus has an impressive 1.43 overall GAA, a .782 save percentage, 11 shutouts and a 32-13 record. In 2010, the goalkeeper made 119 of her 226 saves with only 25 goals against. Last season, she recorded a season-high of 10 saves at then No. 6 Duke in a 2-1 victory, and holds a career-high of 18 saves against then No. 4 Syracuse in 2010.
Amy, Halus and the rest of the Nittany Lions will return to action against another nationally ranked squad when they take on No. 6 Connecticut on Friday, Aug. 31 for a 7 p.m. night game. Penn State returns home on Sunday, Sept. 2, when they host Lafayette at 2 p.m.