October 22, 2012
BIG TEN HONOR
NU's Alyinovich Defensive Player of the Week

PARK RIDGE, Ill. - Northwestern sophomore defender Jackie Alyinovich (Burr Ridge, Ill./Hinsdale South) has been named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.

Northwestern surrendered just one goal in 180 minutes last week. The lone score came off a penalty kick but Alyinovich and the NU backline had a busy week, defending 31 Illinois shot attempts on Thursday and another 12 by Iowa on Sunday.

Her play helped Northwestern go 2-0 last week with both victories coming in Big Ten play. The Wildcats came back for a dramatic 2-1 win over Illinois on Thursday and then concluded the home season at Lakeside Field with a 1-0 shutout of Iowa on Senior Day. Alyinovich has been a constant presence in the NU backfield this season, starting all 18 matches and playing 1,619 of a possible 1,664 minutes.

Sunday's win over Iowa was the third shutout of the season for the Northwestern defense and first in Big Ten play.

This is the first career honor for Alyinovich and second weekly honor for the Wildcats this season as freshman goalkeeper Rachel Bergman earned Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week honors on Sept. 10.
Northwestern will conclude the 2012 season on the road Saturday, visiting East Lansing, Mich., to take on Michigan State at noon.