Oct. 9, 2012

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Redshirt junior goaltender Molly Cassidy (Encinitas, Calif.) has been named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, as announced by the Big Ten office on Tuesday, Oct. 9.

Last weekend, Cassidy notched two shutouts, against Ohio State University, 1-0,and Ohio University, 1-0, her third and fourth shutouts of the season.  Cassidy's previous shutouts this season were against Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 2, 1-0, and Indiana on Sept. 28, 3-0. 

Cassidy tallied three saves while facing the Buckeyes and two saves in the overtime match against the Bobcats. 

In the Big Ten rankings overall, Cassidy leads the goaltenders in save percentage (.822), saves (88), and saves per game (6.29).  She also is tied for first in shutouts (4) with Kathleen McGraw of Iowa.  Cassidy ranks third in goals against average (1.33). 

Cassidy leads the Big Ten goaltenders in conference games with save percentage (.947), goals against average (0.33), and shutouts (2). 

This is Cassidy's sixth Defensive Player of the Week accolade during her career at Michigan State, and second this season.  She also received Defensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 4.

The No. 19 Spartans will take on No. 16 Michigan and Kent State this coming weekend.  MSU will take on the Wolverines in Ann Arbor on Friday, Oct. 12, at 3 p.m., and the Golden Flashes on Sunday, Oct. 14 at noon.  The Michigan State match against Michigan will be televised on the Big Ten Network live.