Gophers Jennie Clark Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week

Park Ridge, Ill. – 10/12/09

University of Minnesota Soccer junior defender Jennie Clark was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week today (Oct. 12), announced by the league office.

As Minnesota beat Purdue 1-0 on Oct. 11, Clark led the defensive charge as the Gophers became the first team in 2009 to beat Purdue at home, in West Lafayette, Ind. Purdue entered the game carrying a #9 national ranking, and as the #1 team in the Great Lakes region. For just the second time in school history, Minnesota knocked off a top-10 team, and for the first time on the road.

The Norwalk, Iowa native has been the leader on the Gophers defensive end all year, playing every minute of the season. Clark and her teammates on the backline have led the Golden Gophers to eight shutouts on the season, which stands at number six in single season history.

In the second half against #9 Purdue, the Gopher defense allowed just four shots to the Boilermakers, and controlled the ball so well that Purdue was held without a corner kick in the period. Purdue was able to manage just four shots on goal in the shutout, as the Gophers became the first team to keep the Boilermakers off the scoreboard in 2009.

Clark was an All-American as a sophomore in 2008, and also earned her first Big Ten Player of the Week honor last season on Sept. 8. She has started the last 55 matches for the Golden Gophers and has been in the starting lineup for the last 30 Minnesota shutouts. She is one of only six players to start every game this season, and she is one of five players on the team to own 50+ career starts.

With Clark winning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors, this marks the second straight week that the Gophers can boast a conference award winner, as Katie Bethke earned offensive honors last week. Five times last season Minnesota was the home of a Big Ten Player of the Week. Now with Clark, Bethke and Cat Parkhill (Sept. 7) all winning one this year, 2009 ties the 1997 season as the second most in a single season in team history.

Clark and the Gophers will look to continue their current seven-game unbeaten streak this weekend when they host Penn State on Oct. 16 and Ohio State on Oct. 18 at 7:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. respectively. Minnesota is currently in first place in the Big Ten standings, tying for the lead with Wisconsin. Penn State and Ohio State are each right behind, tied in third.