Christie Welsh led the Big Ten last year in every single offensive category.
In every single one, she was untied and unchallenged.
Through seven games this season, Welsh has found some company at the top of the statistics sheet in the Big Ten. She leads the league in assists and points, but trails Minnesota junior forward Rachel Roth in shots and Illinois sophomore Tara Hurless in goals scored. She is just one behind Hurless, who has six goals, and is tied at five goals with Michigan senior Abby Crumpton and Roth. Crumpton, a two-time All-Big Ten first team selection, is having a big year and is also right behind Welsh in assists. The Rochester Hills, Mich., native was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week as she assisted on the game-winner against Iowa and scored two goals and an assist in the Wolverines' 4-1 win over Illinois. Crumpton has gotten the Wolverines (7-1, 2-0) off to a great start. They are ranked No. 14 in the country, just behind the Nittany Lions.
"I'm happy with the way I performed, and I'm happy with the way the team played," Crumpton said in a Michigan press release. "We had a really good weekend."
Shutouts aplenty
Purdue senior Jocelyn Cavalier and Michigan State junior Stacy Heller each had a pair of shutouts this past weekend and were named Co-Defensive Players of the Week.
Heller now has four shutouts on the year and has allowed just one goal all season for a miniscule .15 goals against average. The Spartans(6-1, 2-0) have shut out six of their seven opponents and Heller could have all six shutouts if she would have played all 90 minutes in two games earlier in the season. Cavalier helped the No. 19 Boilermakers (6-1, 2-0) open their Big Ten schedule with a pair of wins for the first time in history. Cavalier has started all seven games for Purdue and has a record of 6-0-0 with four shutouts and a .53 goals against average. The only game the Boilermakers have lost all season is when she was pulled after 51 scoreless minutes and sophomore backup Maureen Carey allowed the lone goal of the game and took the loss.
"As a program, we are very proud of Jocelyn and her accomplishments this season," Purdue assistant and goalkeeper coach K.C. Crabb said in a Purdue press release.
Attendance race
The Wolverines currently hold the home attendance lead as 2,503 fans have come out for six Michigan home games. The Lions hold a narrow lead over Wisconsin for highest average with 815 fans coming out to Penn State's only home game of the season. The Badgers have averaged 796 spectators for two games. Wisconsin and Penn State will get a chance to work on their numbers and try to catch Michigan in attendance.
Both teams have two home games this weekend.
