OGDEN, Utah — Junior goalkeeper Caitlin Plese has been named the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week, the conference announced Tuesday.
 
Plese, the reigning Big Sky co-Goalkeeper of the Year, earns the award after nearly leading the Vikings to a road draw with No. 10 Texas Tech Sunday. Plese made nine saves in the match before a Texas Tech goal off a corner 88 seconds before the end of the second overtime period gave the Red Raiders the narrow victory.
 
Plese also recorded her first shutout of the season in the Vikings' 3-0 win at Colorado State Friday.
 
"Caitlin did not allow a goal in the run of play this weekend against Colorado State or top 10 powerhouse Texas Tech," PSU head coach Laura Schott said. "She had a tremendous weekend."
 
The shutout against Colorado State gives Plese 12 shutouts in her career at Portland State, moving her into a tie with Kim Street for second all-time in program history.
 
Plese now stands just five shutouts behind all-time leader Cris Lewis, who recorded 17 shutouts in her career from 2006-09. Plese broke Lewis' record for single-season individual shutouts last season with 11, three more than Lewis' previous record of eight.
 
Tuesday's Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week honor is the second of Plese's career, as she was also named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 17 last season, after making 10 saves in the Vikings' 2-0 road win over Hawai'i.
 
Additionally, Plese was named College Sports Madness' Big Sky Player of the Week Tuesday, the second time she has earned that honor as well. College Sports Madness also honored Plese on Oct. 29 last season, after the Vikings' season-ending shutout win over Sacramento State.
 
Plese and the Vikings return to action with a home match against in-state rival Oregon Friday, Sept. 12, at Hillsboro Stadium. The match will kick off at 1 p.m. (PT).

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