Balsdon Earns Big Ten Weekly Honor
9/27/2016 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
ROSEMONT, Ill. – Graduate student Grace Balsdon of the eighth-ranked Maryland field hockey team (7-3, 2-1) was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week Tuesday.
The defender from Canterbury, U.K. led the Terrapins on both ends of the field in two road wins over top-15 teams.
In a 2-1 win at No. 13 Princeton Tuesday, Balsdon scored both of Maryland's goals, one in each half to lead the Terps to the win. Both goals came off of penalty corners.
At No. 11 Iowa, the Terrapins trailed by a goal in the first 10 minutes of the game. Balsdon found teammate Sophie Pelzer for a score to tie the game in the 23rd minute. She notched an assist on the play. At the start of the second half, Balsdon scored herself for a 2-1 lead. Maryland went on to win 4-2. At No. 11 Northwestern Sunday, Balsdon assisted on Welma Luus' goal in the 55th minute that tied the game at 2.
The Terrapins were edged by the Wildcats, 3-2. Maryland tied the match twice in the second half, but a Northwestern score with 11 minutes to play was the difference.
This is the second weekly honor this season for the Terrapins. Sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Holliday was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week last Tuesday.
Next, the Terrapins will host No. 9 Michigan (7-2, 2-1) Friday at 6 p.m. at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex. Admission is free and parking will be free and open after 4 p.m.
All Maryland field hockey alumni are invited back to the Maryland-Michigan game as part of Homecoming Weekend. The 2006 and 2011 teams will be recognized for their 10 and five year anniversaries of their National Championships.
The Terps-Wolverines game will be shown live around the world on the Big Ten Network. Click here to get your channel number for BTN. BTN is available on all major video providers, including DIRECTV, Verizon FiOS, Comcast Xfinity, and about 300 additional video providers across North America. Fans can also watch on BTN2Go, or on the BTN's mobile app, and will be asked to enter their cable login information.
International fans will be able to watch using their BTN Plus subscriptions here.
Live Stats will be available and updates will also be posted to the Maryland Field Hockey Twitter feed, so "Follow" to get updates sent straight to you.
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