MANAHAWKIN, N.J. – Saint Joseph's graduate student goalkeeper Paige Kieft was named the National Field Hockey Coaches Association's Defensive Player of the Week, the organization announced on Wednesday morning.
 
Kieft, who hails from Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, backstopped the Hawks to a pair of victories over the weekend.  She made seven saves in regulation and overtime against #11 UConn in Saturday's season opener before her save in the first sudden-victory round of the shootout set up the winning attempt in a 2-1 victory.
 
Then, on Sunday, Kieft made six more stops, including three in a row on one sequence in the second half, as the Hawks shut out host New Hampshire, 2-0.
 
The ninth-ranked Hawks visit #18 Penn State on Sunday.