Penn State senior goalkeeper Megan Akstin was named the Big Ten Field Hockey Defensive Player of the Week yesterday
Akstin had 20 saves in two games and led the Nittany Lions to a 1-0 shutout victory over William & Mary on Sunday. Against the Tribe, she held her opponent scoreless through 70 minutes of regulation and two 15-minute overtime periods.
After neither team could score a goal, the game went into a penalty stroke-off where Akstin blocked two shots to finish the game with 11 saves and give Penn State its first victory of the 2005 season.
This is Akstin's second career Player of the Week accolade for Penn State coach Char Morett, as Akstin was also honored on Sept. 13, 2004. The shutout was the senior's seventh overall at Penn State.
The team returns to action Friday at 6 p.m. vs. Lock Haven in its first home game of the season. The Nittany Lions will christen their brand-new field, temporarily named Astroturf Field, which will be used exclusively for field hockey. It features brand-new turf and a state-of-the-art watering system.
Penn State's Mark Leon was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the 105th U.S. Amateur Championship on Friday, dropping a 2-1 decision to longtime friend and fellow Canadian J.C. Deacon.
Leon qualified for the event at Merion Golf Club near Philadelphia by winning his regional qualifier in Altoona in late July. Only 308 golfers qualified for the Championship from more than 9,000 who began the quest.
Leon tied for 24th in stroke-play, a two-round tournament designed to narrow the field of 308 down to 64 for match play.
Leon won his first round match-play event 3-2 over Robert Riesen. On Thursday, he defeated former Navy standout Billy Hurley 1-up and then holed a 36-foot birdie putt on the final hole to claim a 1-up win over Kevin Chappell that propelled him to the final eight.
Leon was an All-Big Ten performer for Penn State and head coach Greg Nye last spring as a senior. He also earned a spot on the PING Mid-Atlantic All-Region team.
The Penn State football team added two more names to national award watch lists Thursday. Senior quarterback Michael Robinson was among 22 players named as candidates for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and junior linebacker Paul Posluszny was among 65 players named to the Butkus Award Watch List.
Posluszny and Robinson join senior cornerback Alan Zemaitis, a Thorpe, Bednarik and Nagurski award candidate, as team captains for the 2005 season.
Robinson was one of two Big Ten quarterbacks (joining Northwestern's Brett Basanez) named to the watch list for the Unitas Award, which was established in 1987 and is presented to the nation's top senior quarterback. Robinson, as well as junior running back Tony Hunt, was also previously named to the watch list for the Maxwell Award presented to the nation's top collegiate player.
Posluszny was among eight Big Ten players named to the Butkus Award's list of preliminary candidates. The award is entering its 21st season and is presented to the nation's top linebacker. It was last won by a Big Ten player in 1999 when Penn State's LaVar Arrington claimed the honor. All-Americans Brandon Short (1999), Andre Collins (1989) and Shane Conlan (1986) have also been Penn State finalists for the award established in 1985.
Three Penn State women's soccer players were named to the preseason watchlist for the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy, which is given annually to the top collegiate men's and women's player. Only three schools, Penn State, North Carolina and Notre Dame, can tout three candidates on the watchlist.
For the Nittany Lions, 2004 M.A.C. Herman Trophy runner-up Tiffany Weimer, 2004 All-American and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Natalie Jacobs and 2004 All-American and first team All-Big Ten selection Erin McLeod, were all selected among the prestigious group of 25 preseason contenders. A list of 15 semifinalists for the award will be announced in early November, with the three finalists to be announced in December.
