Oct. 13, 2008

EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern junior goalkeeper Misha Rosenthal has been named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for the third time this season the conference office announced Monday. Rosenthal is the first Big Ten player to earn the defensive weekly honor three times in the season since Wisconsin's Jake Settle in 2006.

Rosenthal, a Miami, Fla., native who attended Gulliver Prep, recorded a season-high seven saves as the second-ranked Wildcats remained undefeated and atop the Big Ten standings with a 2-1 win Sunday afternoon at Wisconsin.

With Northwestern maintaining a slim one-goal advantage and just over five minutes remaining in regulation, Rosenthal made back-to-back saves to hold the Badgers at bay and preserve the win.

He ranks second nationally with a 0.24 goals-against average and third with a .912 save percentage. His nine shutouts are a school single-season record and lead the Big Ten. The Wildcats' team goal-against average (Rosenthal has played every minute of every match) of 0.24 is the best in the country.

Northwestern (10-0-2, 3-0-0 Big Ten) returns to action Wednesday, Oct. 22 when it hosts Northern Illinois at Lakeside Field.