Sept. 7, 2009

PARK RIDGE, Ill. - Illinois soccer player Niki Read was named the Big Ten co-Freshman of the Week for her performances last weekend, announced by the conference office today.

Read tallied a total of four points at home in No. 11 Illinois' matches against No. 9 UCLA and UC Santa Barbara in the Illini Challenge Cup Presented by Gameday Spirit. On Friday she teamed with fellow freshman Shayla Mutz to assist Chichi Nweke's goal against the Bruins, as the Illini gave one of the top teams in the country all they could handle in a 2-1 deficit. It was the first assist of Read's career.

Two days later, Read had a goal and an assist to help lead the Orange and Blue to victory over UCSB. The Lake Orion, Mich. native assisted Hilbrands' game-winner in the 5th minute, then scored the second goal of her career in the 62nd after heading in a corner kick from teammate Marissa Mykines.

Read has been one of Illinois' most dynamic players so far this season and is second on the team with six points. She also leads the Orange and Blue with 14 shot attempts on the year, eight of which were on goal.

She shares the Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor with Minnesota goalkeeper Cat Parkhill, who recorded two shutouts over the weekend. This is the first year that the Big Ten is awarding Freshman of the Week honors for women's soccer. Indiana's Devon Beach and Michigan's Jackie Carron were named Co-Offensive Players of the Week, while Ohio State's Lauren Robertson earned Defensive Player of the Week.

Illinois (3-1-1) continues play this weekend, traveling to Oregon for the Nike Portland Invitational. The Illini will face No. 3 Portland at 9 p.m. CT on Friday, Sept. 11, then play Washington at 2 p.m. CT on Sunday.