Bethany Blackwood of Grace College’s women’s soccer team may need a new trophy shelf after this year.
For the third straight week, Blackwood was named the NCCAA National Defensive Player of the Week. The freshman goalkeeper also picked up her third Player of the Week award from the Crossroads League on Monday.
Blackwood, who is the reigning NAIA National Defender of the Week, has already established herself as one of the top goalkeepers in the nation. She picked up two more shutouts last week, making a combined 13 saves to blank Indiana Wesleyan and Mt. Vernon Nazarene.
For the season, she leads the NAIA with 12 shutouts. She has yet to allow a goal in Crossroads League play. Against IWU, she made eight saves to preserve a 1-0 shutout victory.
The Lady Lancers have a monumental match on Wednesday. Grace travels to No. 1 Spring Arbor with sole possession of first place on the line in the Crossroads League.