UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Senior defender Brian Forgue (Glenmoore, Pa.) picked up the first Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors of the season, the conference announced Monday (Aug. 27), and senior Julian Cardona (Lincoln, Neb.) garnered a spot on the TopDrawerSoccer.com National Team of the Week after a two-goal performance in the 3-0 win over Stetson.
Forgue earned the award, the first of his career, after guiding the Penn State defense to a shutout of Stetson Aug. 25. The Nittany Lion back line denied the Hatters a shot on goal while allowing just two shots, both in the second half.
Sophomore goalkeeper Andrew Wolverton (Snellville, Ga.) was the most recent Defensive Player of the Week recipient for Penn State. Wolverton earned the award Sept. 12, 2011, following a three-save effort in a 3-0 whitewash of Saint Peter’s.
Cardona tallied the second and third goals in the Stetson contest, first sending a header into the back of the net in the 64th minute before firing a right-footed blast past goalkeeper Andreas Schnabl from 27 yards out less than a minute later. Cardona tied Minh Vu (Tuscon, Ariz.) for the team lead in goals (4) in 2011. Information on the TopDrawerSoccer.com National Team of the Week can be found here.
