Penn State field hockey goalkeeper Aby Deverka has been honored as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after a pair of dominant displays that helped the Nittany Lions secure victories over Delaware and Villanova.
In those two contests she turned away 13 of 14 shots, posting a .929 save percentage, and made nine crucial stops against the Blue Hens in the Delaware matchup, underscoring her reliability between the posts.
The award marks the first time in her collegiate career that Deverka has received the conference’s defensive accolade, a milestone that follows Anouk Knuvers’ triumph in October 2023, when she was the last Nittany Lion to claim the honor.
Beyond the individual recognition, the performance has lowered her season goals‑against average to 1.22, reflecting a marked improvement in consistency and defensive solidity as the team heads into the latter part of the schedule.
Upcoming Challenge
Penn State will next test its defense on Sunday, September 13, when they travel to Happy Valley to face Princeton at noon, a matchup that could further shape the conference standings.