For the third-consecutive week, Iowa’s defense is being honored after a strong weekend performance.
On Tuesday, Jessica Barnett earned her first career Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week award.
The senior garnered the honor after helping Iowa post two wins this past weekend during a road trip to Michigan.
Barnett led a backline that only surrendered one goal on 12 shots against No. 22 Michigan State and Central Michigan.
“I like to focus on the whole weekend as a team effort,” Barnett told *The Daily Iowan*. “It’s great for me, but I’m more team-oriented.”
The Canadian gave a lot of credit to her defensive teammates in helping her earn the award. She said the organization throughout practice played a huge role in how the Hawkeyes performed.
“We’ve really been working on our communication with each other,” Barnett said. “Everybody really put her best foot forward.”
This is Barnett’s fourth Big Ten award of her career. Last season, she received the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week three times — twice in October and once in November.
Kathleen McGraw has collected the defensive award the last two weeks for Iowa.
— by Cody Goodwin