Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2016-17 | Hawk Talk Monthly — Oct. 2016
IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa field hockey redshirt senior Natalie Cafone has been named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, the league office announced Tuesday. It marks the fourth weekly honor of Cafone’s career and the fourth weekly award for the Hawkeyes this season.
A native of Fairfield, New Jersey, Cafone scored four goals and registered one assist last weekend, helping the Hawkeyes to a pair of shutout wins over Central Michigan (11-0) and UC Davis (5-0). Cafone was dominate in both games, registering five points (two goals, one assist) against Central Michigan and scoring two goals on a team-high 10 shots against UC Davis.
Cafone now has 63 career goals — the eighth-highest total in program history. She is one goal behind former Hawkeye Kerry Lassard (64) for seventh. Cafone currently leads the Big Ten with 38 points on the season, and is tied for first in goals per match (1.07) and goals scored (15). She also ranks second in points per match (2.71) and third in shots per match (4.71).
Iowa has won a weekly conference award four times this season. Senior goalkeeper Alexandra Pecora was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 13, while Katie Birch garnered back-to-back Freshman of the Week accolades on Aug. 30 and Sept. 6.
The 16th-ranked Hawkeyes return to action this weekend, traveling to No. 6 Northwestern on Friday and No. 10 Michigan on Sunday.