Northwestern goalkeepers, sophomore Lauren Clem and senior Zak Allen, were both named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday.

Clem was awarded for her performance in the Wildcats’ 2-0 win against Illinois on Saturday, where she matched her season-high with seven saves and helped the team clinch a spot in the Big Ten Tournament. It was the 11th shutout Clem recorded this year, which is an NU record, topping the mark she tied last season, with nine. Clem previously earned this same honor last September.

Allen is being recognized for his efforts against Notre Dame and Michigan State. In the Cats’ 1-1 draw against the then-No. 8 Fighting Irish last Tuesday, Allen saved a career-high 12 shots versus a Notre Dame opponent that tallied 39 attempts on the night. To follow up that stellar performance, Allen notched his second shutout of the season thanks to seven saves in NU’s 1-0 victory over Michigan State on Saturday. Allen saved a total of 19 shots over the week and is an important reason why the team is right back in the conversation to get a bid to the NCAA Tournament. Allen is also the first Cat to earn Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week since his predecessor, Tyler Miller, won it last season.

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