DULUTH, Minn. – Freshman Casey Frank has been named this week's Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) Defensive Player of the Week after securing the Trine University women's hockey team's first two wins of the season in net.
Frank is the first student-athlete this season to bring home a player of the week honor for the Thunder and it is the first time in her young career. She finished the weekend 65 saves and a .915 save percentage on the way to her first career wins, both coming against Marian (Wis.) University.
After a shaky first period on Friday, which saw her allow three goals, she buckled down and held the Sabres scoreless through the final 40 minutes of play. Her offense gave her the backup needed and took their first lead of the game with five minutes remaining. She finished off the win with a flurry of saves during the final minute and a half, during which the opposition pulled their goalie in favor of an extra attacker.
The Thunder pulled out to an early lead in the second game of the weekend, scoring three goals in the first ten minutes. Frank protected that lead as the Sabres gradually upped their attack through the contest. She recorded 12 saves in the second and then 18 in the third as the team finished off with another 4-3 victory.