Women’s Soccer

For the third time this season, freshman goalkeeper Mackenzie Wood was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week. Wood won the award for her performances against Indiana and Purdue.

Against the Hoosiers, the freshman goalkeeper made four saves. Her most crucial save came a few minutes into the second half. Following a NU penalty in the box, Wood saved Annelie Leitner’s penalty kick with a strong save.

“I knew that the game was on the line, but then again I tried to calm myself down and just trust my instincts and I read it right,” Wood said after the game.

Sunday versus the Boilermakers, Wood notched eight saves — the most she has compiled in a Big Ten game this year — as she held Purdue scoreless for 110 minutes.

Despite being a freshman, Wood leads all Big Ten goalkeepers in multiple categories. She has the most shutouts with eight, highest save percentage with .857 and a goals against average of 0.59.

Wood’s current goals against average would be the second-lowest in NU history behind Lauren Clem’s 0.28 average in 2016. Her eight shutouts is also the most of any NU goalkeeper in a campaign other than Clem.

The Indiana native has now won Freshman of the Week honors in three different months. She claimed her first Freshman of the Week award on August 28 following two shutouts against Iowa State and West Virginia at the Boilermaker Challenge Cup. Wood was also named Goalkeeper of the Week.

Her second freshman award came after two great performances against Penn State and Ohio State.

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