WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – For the second consecutive week, the Big Ten conference office has awarded members of the Purdue women's soccer team for their performances. Two freshmen: Sydney Sparks and Leanna Rebimbas recorded honors following two road victories.
Together, the newcomers worked to maintain Purdue's 4-0-0 win streak to open the season and with their help, Purdue received 18 votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll.
Together, the two freshmen accounted for almost half of the shots in Ames (10 of 21).
B1G Defender of the Week was given to Sparks after holding DePaul scoreless and Iowa State to just one goal. The center-back had a stellar performance in Chicago, not only holding the Blue Demons to just five shots, but scoring the third and final goal of the game off a free kick from center-field. The goal marked the first of her collegiate career and earned No. 6 on SC Top 10 as well as the No. 1 play of the week by NCAA Soccer.
With the honor, Sparks becomes just the fourth Big Ten freshman, who is not a goalkeeper, to receive Defender of the Week honors. Of the four honorees, two are Boilermakers (Laren Montenegro, 9/29/08 and Sparks).
Meanwhile, Rebimbas was named B1G Co-Freshman of the Week after lending a hand in both victories. The freshman scored her first two collegiate goals in back-to-back games last week. At DePaul, Rebimbas scored the first insurance goal, scoring on her lone shot of the game. Then at Iowa State, Rebimbas was key in the Purdue come-back win after producing the equalizer in the 59th minute. In the 2-1 win at ISU, the West Caldwell, New Jersey, native tied with Sparks as the team leader in shots (five).
Rebimbas shares the week's honor with Penn State's Penn State forward Ally Schlegel. Her honor marks the third consecutive season a Boilermaker earned Freshman of the Week.
This weekend, the Boilermakers will face two top-11 programs. First, Purdue will take on the No. 7 South Carolina Gamecocks on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by No. 11 Kansas at 2 p.m. ET Sunday.
Purdue in the 2019 Big Ten Weekly Honors:
8/27 Goalkeeper of the Week - Marisa Bova
9/4 Defensive Player of the Week - Sydney Sparks
Freshman of the Week - Leanna Rebimbas
Together, the newcomers worked to maintain Purdue's 4-0-0 win streak to open the season and with their help, Purdue received 18 votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll.
Together, the two freshmen accounted for almost half of the shots in Ames (10 of 21).
B1G Defender of the Week was given to Sparks after holding DePaul scoreless and Iowa State to just one goal. The center-back had a stellar performance in Chicago, not only holding the Blue Demons to just five shots, but scoring the third and final goal of the game off a free kick from center-field. The goal marked the first of her collegiate career and earned No. 6 on SC Top 10 as well as the No. 1 play of the week by NCAA Soccer.
With the honor, Sparks becomes just the fourth Big Ten freshman, who is not a goalkeeper, to receive Defender of the Week honors. Of the four honorees, two are Boilermakers (Laren Montenegro, 9/29/08 and Sparks).
Meanwhile, Rebimbas was named B1G Co-Freshman of the Week after lending a hand in both victories. The freshman scored her first two collegiate goals in back-to-back games last week. At DePaul, Rebimbas scored the first insurance goal, scoring on her lone shot of the game. Then at Iowa State, Rebimbas was key in the Purdue come-back win after producing the equalizer in the 59th minute. In the 2-1 win at ISU, the West Caldwell, New Jersey, native tied with Sparks as the team leader in shots (five).
Rebimbas shares the week's honor with Penn State's Penn State forward Ally Schlegel. Her honor marks the third consecutive season a Boilermaker earned Freshman of the Week.
This weekend, the Boilermakers will face two top-11 programs. First, Purdue will take on the No. 7 South Carolina Gamecocks on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by No. 11 Kansas at 2 p.m. ET Sunday.
Purdue in the 2019 Big Ten Weekly Honors:
8/27 Goalkeeper of the Week - Marisa Bova
9/4 Defensive Player of the Week - Sydney Sparks
Freshman of the Week - Leanna Rebimbas