Laytos Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week
10/15/2007 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
PARK RIDGE, Ill. -- Sophomore Paige Laytos (Lititz, Pa./Warwick HS) of the University of Michigan field hockey team was named Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Week Monday (Oct. 15) in recognition of her contribution in Wolverines' regional wins over Kent State and Indiana last week.It is her second Big Ten weekly accolade in four weeks.
Laytos
Laytos scored the most important goal of her youthful collegiate career last against Indiana Friday (Oct. 12), converting on an overtime breakaway opportunity to break a scoreless tie and clinch at least a share of the Big Ten trophy for the Wolverines. The U-M sophomore accepted a sideline pass and snuck behind the Hoosier defenders to walk in unattested at the 79:03 mark. Laytos bounced a shot past the sprawled IU goalkeeper to tally her third goal of the season.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Wolverine midfielder contributed to the Wolverines' 1-0 shutout victory against the Hoosiers and helped to allow Michigan's opposition to just five shots on goal last week. Michigan currently owns a nine-game winning streak with three shutout victories and just 10 goals allowed over the stretch.
The weekly accolade is the third of Laytos' career and second of the season. She previously earned the distinction after Michigan's wins over Iowa (3-2 (2ot), Sept. 21) and Penn State (1-0, Sept. 23). She scored late to key the U-M comeback over the Hawkeyes, and Laytos contributed to a Wolverine defensive corps that outshot its weekend conference opposition a combined 21-0 and outcornered it 13-0 in the second half. Laytos is the second Wolverine player this season to claim multiple Big Ten weekly recognition, adding to back-to-back offensive accolade for senior captain Lucia Belassi (Paysandu, Uruguay/Liceo #1).
Michigan will kick off its five-game road swing next Wednesday (Oct. 17), traveling to Mount Pleasant, Mich., for a non-conference match at Central Michigan. The game is slated for a 3 p.m. start in the CMU Field Hockey Complex.
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
