UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State sophomore defender Owen Griffith was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.
Griffith helped the Nittany Lions shut out West Virginia in a scoreless draw Sept. 6.
Griffith logged 110 minutes on the field against the Mountaineers, including both overtime periods. The sophomore recorded a trio of shots on the offensive side but excelled on defense, guiding the Penn State back line to its third shutout of the season.
The Nittany Lions are 3-1-1 this season due in large part to their defensive efforts, allowing just four goals through five games (.80 per game). Griffith has been in the starting lineup for each contest and scored the gamewinner against Hartford Aug. 27, the first goal of his collegiate career.
