Michigan State University Athletics
Bennett Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week
9/16/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 16, 2013
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State men's soccer goalkeeper Zach Bennett was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week as announced by the conference office on Monday. With the help of a stout backline, the sophomore Spartan earned his third shutout in four games this season, the sixth of his career, taking down nationally-ranked Marquette, 2-0.
"I'm happy for him and it's probably a credit not just to Zach Bennett but to our whole defensive line against Marquette," said head coach Damon Rensing. "He had to deal with several corner kicks and was flawless in those actions and on top of that, he made some very good saves to keep the game as a shutout. I think it's well-deserved for Zach and for our entire team."
Bennett currently leads the Big Ten in goals against average with 0.50 and is second in the conference in both save percentage at .818 and shutouts at three. In Sunday's win against the Golden Eagles, Bennett recorded five saves on the day en route to snapping Marquette's 14-game home-winning streak.
It is the second weekly honor for the Plano, Texas, native who has played in every minute of the 2013 season. Bennett earned his first Big Ten weekly laurel on Oct. 22, 2012 after shutting out Oakland (1-0) and Wisconsin (2-0) and was later named to the 2012 Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
The Spartans are now 3-1-0 and will return to action on Wednesday, Sept. 18 as they host Bowling Green at DeMartin Stadium at 5 p.m.
