The field-hockey Hawkeyes snagged their first freshman Big Ten honor of the year this week for the first time in almost three years.

Natalie Cafone, a forward for the field-hockey team, was honored by the conference on Tuesday, garnering her first career Big Ten Freshman of the Week award.

Cafone, a native of Fairfield, N.J., scored plenty of goals this past weekend against Kent State and Ball State. She accounted for 3 total goals and tallied 1 assist in the two Hawkeye victories.

“We always look to play hard on Grant Field,” the freshman said after Sunday’s 6-0 win against Ball State. “We just want to leave it all out on the field and give it everything we have.”

The freshman has scored six times this season, fifth-most on the team. Her lone goal against Kent State tied the contest, 1-1, before junior Kelsey Mitchell scored twice for the 3-1 victory. Cafone’s two goals against Ball State marked the second time in her young Hawkeye career that she scored multiple times in a game.

Cafone is also the first Iowa freshman to win the award since current senior Sarah Drake captured the honor on Nov. 2, 2009.