The Big Ten Conference announced its weekly player honors following a thrilling season‑opening weekend that spanned August 28‑30, spotlighting standout performances across the league.
Standout Performances
Iowa’s Fréderique van Cleef and Reine van Hoof led the Hawkeyes to two victories in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, each contributing a goal and an assist. Van Hoof’s decisive strike secured a 4‑3 win over Wake Forest, earning her the league’s Freshman of the Week distinction — the first such honor for a rookie since September 2025.
Rutgers forward Olivia Fraticelli was named Offensive Player of the Week after a flawless shooting display. She scored on all four of her attempts, netting four goals and eight points, highlighted by a hat trick in a 7‑1 road triumph over Wagner, marking her first Big Ten offensive accolade.
Michigan’s defensive anchor Eva Bernardy earned Defensive Player of the Week after converting a penalty stroke in her collegiate debut and helping the Wolverines shut out North Carolina, which failed to register a single penalty corner.
The weekend also saw Iowa sweep two ranked opponents — No. 11 Wake Forest and No. 2 North Carolina — showcasing the conference’s depth and setting an early tone for the season’s competitive landscape.