Iritxity Irigoyen Named BIG EAST Defensive Player of Week for 3rd Week in a Row
3/15/2021 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Liberty field hockey freshman goalkeeper Azul Iritxity Irigoyen has been named the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week for a third week in a row.
In addition to Iritxity Irigoyen's honor, Lady Flames sophomore forward Daniella Rhodes has been selected to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll for a third consecutive week. In five weeks this season, Liberty has received 10 different BIG EAST honors and three NFHCA Division I Offensive Player of the Week recognitions.
Iritxity Irigoyen recorded her third shutout of the season after the best performance of her young career in Liberty's 4-0 win over Connecticut, Sunday at Temple's Howarth Field. The first-year netminder made a career-best 12 saves in the contest in what was the Lady Flames' first-ever victory over the Huskies (previously 0-8 record).
Iritxity Irigoyen made nine saves versus UConn on Saturday in a narrow 3-2 setback in game one of the series. In eight appearances (six starts) this season, she holds a 6-1 record with a 0.92 goals-against-average (No. 11 in country), .860 save percentage (No. 9 in country), 37 saves and three shutouts.
Rhodes scored two goals and added an assist for five points in Liberty's two games against UConn. Rhodes set up the Lady Flames' first goal of the day on Sunday after intercepting a pass and finding Jill Bolton for a goal on the counterattack in the 13th minute. Rhodes scored in the 22nd minute, her 13th goal of the season, putting Liberty ahead 2-0.
In Saturday's bout against the Huskies, Rhodes scored in the 60th minute on a penalty corner. She leads the team in goals (13) and points (31) through nine games. The sophomore forward is first in the country in goals per game (1.44) and ranks second in points per game (3.44).
Liberty (8-1, 7-1 BIG EAST) will play its next game at Duke (3-7 overall, 1-0 spring) on Sunday. Match time is set for 1 p.m. at Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium in Durham, N.C.
Congrats to Azul Iritxity Irigoyen on being named the @BIGEAST Defensive Player of the Week for a third consecutive week!??
— Liberty Field Hockey (@LibertyFH) March 15, 2021
Daniella Rhodes has also made the @BIGEAST Weekly Honor Roll for a third straight week.
??: https://t.co/fo33iXx8I4#CloseTheGap #RiseWithUs #BIGEASTfh pic.twitter.com/lYWwYOy3hD
