Sept. 13, 2010

PARK RIDGE, Ill. - The Big Ten has tabbed Illinois' Vanessa DiBernardo, Ohio State's Caitlyn Martin and Michigan State's Jill Flietstra as its weekly women's soccer award winners. DiBernardo and Martin earn Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors, while Flietstra takes home Defensive Player of the Week laurels. DiBernardo also earns the nod for Freshman of the Week.

Co-Offensive Player and Freshman of the Week
Vanessa DiBernardo, Illinois
M - Fr. - Naperville, Ill. - Waubonsie Valley

Illinois' Vanessa DiBernardo earns Big Ten Co-Offensive Player and Freshman of the Week honors after scoring twice in the Illini's 3-0 win over Cincinnati on Saturday. DiBernardo's fourth and fifth goals of the season helped Illinois take down an undefeated Cincinnati team on the road, securing the Illini's fifth win of the season. Currently leading the conference in points (11) and goals (5), DiBernardo takes home her first Offensive Player of the Week laurel while earning her second Freshman of the Week honor of the season.

Last Illinois Offensive Player of the Week: Ella Masar (Oct. 29, 2007)
Last Illinois Freshman of the Week: Vanessa DiBernardo (Aug. 30, 2010)

Co-Offensive Player of the Week
Caitlyn Martin, Ohio State
F - Jr. - Dublin, Ohio - Hilliard Davidson

Ohio State's Caitlyn Martin takes home Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors, the first weekly accolade of her career. Martin provided enough offense to lead the Buckeyes over intrastate foe Cleveland State, notching two goals in Ohio State's 2-0 win over the Vikings on Wednesday. Martin has scored three goals in her last four games, helping the Buckeyes rack up four-straight wins in the process.

Last Ohio State Offensive Player of the Week: Lauren Granberg (Aug. 30, 2010)

Defensive Player of the Week
Jill Flietstra, Michigan State
GK - Jr. - Hudsonville, Mich. - Unity Christian

Michigan State's Jill Flietstra receives Defensive Player of the Week honors after posting back-to-back shutouts last week. The junior made two saves en route to a 0-0, double-overtime draw against DePaul on Friday before denying six shots in the Spartans' 3-0 win over Loyola Chicago on Sunday. Flietstra currently leads the Big Ten in shutouts (5) and saves (33).

2010 Big Ten Women's Soccer Weekly Honorees

Aug. 23
O: Kate Allen, Fr., Northwestern
D: Danielle Kot, Sr., Illinois
F: Kate Allen, Northwestern

Aug. 30
O: Lauren Granberg, So., Ohio State
D: Carolyn Edwards, Sr., Northwestern
F: Vanessa DiBernardo, Illinois

Sept. 6
O: Molly Rouse, Sr., Minnesota
D: Cat Parkhill, So., Minnesota
F: Rachel Middleman, Ohio State

Sept. 13
O: Vanessa DiBernardo, Fr., Illinois
O: Caitlyn Martin, Jr., Ohio State
D: Jill Flietstra, Jr., Michigan State
F: Vanessa DiBernardo, Illinois

Big Ten Women's Soccer

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