University of Northern Iowa Athletics
UNI soccer: Allison Groothuis wins MVC Defensive Player of the Week
10/3/2023 11:12:00 AM | Women's Soccer
ST. LOUIS — UNI soccer picked up another weekly honor from the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) on Tuesday morning, as Allison Groothuis was named MVC Defensive Player of the Week.
Tuesday's honor is the second defensive player of the week award in Groothuis' career. She also received the award on Aug. 29, 2022. The announcement by the league office marked the second consecutive week in which a Panther soccer player has won a weekly MVC award. Last week, Olivia Knoepfle was named MVC Offensive Player of the Week and Olivia Bohl received MVC Freshman of the Week.
The Panthers have now received MVC honors in consecutive weeks for the second consecutive year. UNI took home awards in back-to-back weeks during the first two weeks of the 2022 season.
Groothuis was excellent in UNI's lone contest last week, a comprehensive 2-0 victory over Indiana State on Sunday. Defensively, Groothuis and the rest of the Panthers' back line was dominant yet again. Sunday's victory marked the third consecutive shutout pitched by Groothuis and the Panther defense, a unit that has allowed just nine total shots across UNI's last five halves played.
The Panthers allowed just four total shots against the Sycamores and did not allow a single shot in the second half. The Bettendorf, Iowa native played the full 90 minutes against the Sycamores and has played every minute of the Panthers' three consecutive shutout victories.
"I think Groothuis, who got the second goal on Sunday, I think that was her best game," said head coach Bruce Erickson. "I think collectively it was probably the defense's best game. Not to allow a shot at this level in a half, that's a quality."
She also got involved offensively in the 70th minute of the contest, scoring her first goal of the season to double UNI's lead.The goal came from a short corner kick routine that culminated with Marissa Gross serving in a cross to the near post. Groothuis latched onto the cross and steered the ball into the back of the net for her first goal since the 2022 season. She recorded two total shots against the Sycamores, both of which were shots on goal. The goal marked the sixth of Groothuis' career.
UNI's defense, anchored by Groothuis, has posted stellar numbers thus far in 2023. With a 0.667 goals-against average, the Panthers rank No. 33 nationally and No. 2 in the MVC. The Panthers' seven shutouts and eight total goals allowed also rank second in the conference. Thanks to UNI's stifling defense, the Panthers also rank 11th nationally and No. 1 in the MVC in goal differential.
Groothuis and the Panthers hit the road this week for a pair of MVC road matches. First up, UNI visits Murray State for the first time in program history on Thursday. The match kicks off at 3 p.m. CT and can be streamed on ESPN+.
