IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa seniors Maddy Murphy and Anthe Nijziel have been named Big Ten Player of the Week honorees, it was announced Monday by the league office. Murphy is the Offensive Player of the Week, while Nijziel is the Co-Defensive Player of the Week.
It is both Murphy and Nijziel’s third honor of the season. Four Hawkeyes — Murphy (3), Nijziel (3), Esme Gibson (1), Lokke Stribos (1) — have accounted for eight Big Ten weekly honors, which are the most in a single season in school history.
Murphy earned the offensive distinction after tallying four points in victories over No. 2 Michigan and No. 19 Ohio State last weekend at Grant Field. The Tasmania native assisted on the game-tying goal in the 58th minute in the eventual shootout victory over the Wolverines and she scored a goal and had an assist in the 3-0 win over the Buckeyes – a victory that gave Iowa a share of the Big Ten regular season title.
Murphy has tallied at least one point in three straight and in five of Iowa’s last six games.
Nijziel earned the defensive honor after recording five points via two goals and an assist, while also anchoring an Iowa defense that allowed one goal over 140 minutes on the weekend. The Netherlands native scored the game-tying goal in the 58th minute against Michigan, while keying an Iowa defense that surrendered six shots on goal over 80 minutes. She played the entirety of the double overtime contest.
Against Ohio State, Nijziel scored a goal and tallied an assist in the 3-0 win. She also anchored a Hawkeye defense that posted its 11th shutout of the season and surrendered just two shots on goal in the game. It was the 13th time in the last 14 games that the Hawkeye defense has allowed four or fewer shots on goal.
The two wins were Iowa’s eighth and ninth victories over nationally ranked opponents this season, including seven over top seven ranked foes. The Big Ten regular season title is the 16th in program history and the second in three seasons.
The Hawkeyes, who are 16-0 overall and 7-0 in Big Ten play, are idle this weekend. Iowa closes out the regular season Oct. 29, hosting Northwestern at 2 p.m. (CT) at Grant Field. The game will be televised on BTN.