Gladieux, Irixity Irigoyen named Play Safe Turf & Track/NFHCA Division I National Players of the Week

BROCKPORT, N.Y. — Azul Irixity Irigoyen, freshman goalkeeper from No. 4 Liberty University, and Sophia Gladieux, freshman forward from No. 7 Penn State University, have been named this week’s Play Safe Turf & Track/NFHCA Division I Defensive and Offensive Players of the Week, respectively.

Play Safe Turf & Track/NFHCA Division I Defensive Player of the Week

Azul Irixity Irigoyen, Liberty University, Fr., Goalkeeper (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

Irixity Irigoyen registered 12 saves in 76 minutes of action for No. 4 Liberty University last week. In a 3-2 overtime win against No. 14 Duke University, Irixity Irigoyen allowed two goals in the first quarter, but responded by not allowing another goal in the remaining four periods of play. In the final three quarters of regulation, Irixity Irigoyen turned away six shots on goal and in the overtime period, she made four additional saves to keep Liberty in the contest.

Irixity Irigoyen was named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday.

Play Safe Turf & Track/NFHCA Division I Offensive Player of the Week

Sophia Gladieux, Penn State University, Fr., Forward (Boyertown, Pennsylvania)

Gladieux registered ten-points on five goals last weekend for No. 7 Penn State University. On Friday in the first of two games against Michigan State University, Gladieux scored an astounding four goals to help the Nittany Lions climb back from a 2-0 deficit in the first half. She scored three-consecutive, unassisted goals to make the score 3-2, then added a fourth in the final quarter to finish the game 5-2. On Sunday, Gladieux notched her fifth goal of the weekend in Penn State’s 3-0 shutout victory over MSU.

Gladieux was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week on Tuesday.

Play Safe Turf & Track is the Official Sponsor of the collegiate 2020-2021 NFHCA Players of the Week Program.

Play Safe Turf & Track is well known as the best installation and repair company in the hockey business. They offer an FIH-certified product and FIH-certified build team.

The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) is a nonprofit organization serving field hockey coaches and supporters of the game from across the United States. The mission of the organization is to champion, strengthen, and celebrate field hockey coaches and the game. The NFHCA strives to cultivate and recognize the professional contributions of its membership and to foster and promote the growth of the sport. The NFHCA is responsible for providing a recognizable presence and voice in regard to legislation affecting the sport as well as interscholastic and intercollegiate programs.