University of Minnesota Athletics
Pafko Named B1G Defensive POW
9/29/2014 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Sophomore defender and Blaine, Minn. native, Ashley Pafko, was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after an impressive weekend for the Maroon and Gold. The conference office announced the weekly honors on Monday afternoon. Pafko was joined by Nebraska's Mayme Conroy (Offensive Player of the Week) and Penn State's Frannie Crouse (Freshman of the Week).
Pafko, who scored one goal on two shots in Minnesota's Big Ten road wins over Purdue and Indiana, is the first defender to nab a weekly conference honor since Tarah Hobbs last October.
In the Gophers first game of the weekend against Purdue, Pafko tallied the lone shot on goal in the first half. Minnesota went on to win the match up thanks to a goal from sophomore Simone Kolander.
On Sunday, Pafko scored the equalizer to force overtime in Minnesota's 2-1 2OT victory over Indiana. Pafko and the defense including Becca Roberts, Rashida Beal, Haley Helverson, Rachel McCloskey and Tarah Hobbs faced a combined 18 shots against the two teams allowing just one goal on the weekend.
The goal on Sunday marked Pafko's second of the season. Her first goal of the season was in the Gophers 4-1 loss to Florida State during the first weekend of play. Pafko also has two assists for a combined six points in 2014 including the assist in overtime against Michigan State that allowed the Gophers to pick up their first conference win of the season. Pafko has started all 11 games for the Maroon and Gold this year.
Last season, Pafko tallied one goal and two assists for a total of four points. She played in all twenty games of the 2013 season.
The Gophers will continue Big Ten play this weekend when they host Penn State and Ohio State at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium. Matches kick off at 7 p.m. and 1 p.m. respectively.
To read the full release from the conference office, please visit the Big Ten Conference website here.
###
