Field hockey goaltender Anastasia Netto earns MAC Defensive Player of the Week

(Bethany Walter/Staff Photographer)

Field hockey goalkeeper Anastasia Netto was named the Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Week, by stifling ranked foes, No. 25 Maine and No. 16 Stanford, last weekend.

She came through for Central Michigan in its first win against a ranked opponent since 2007, saving Maine’s three shots on goal and recording her third career shutout.

But it was in a losing effort, in the following game that was more impressive, according to head coach Cristy Freese.  Netto made eight saves against Stanford, in a 2-1 loss.

“Against Maine, I thought she played solid, but I thought defenders like Skylar VanNatta played very well,” Freese said. “Now, against Stanford, Anna (Netto) came up with spectacular saves, and there were other times that our defense got the ball out and helped Anna. So it’s really a combination of that.”

Freese said the saves she was making were of the aerial variety, jumping up to the top corner.

The Trinidad & Tobago native has allowed 1.8 goals per game, continuing a trend of improving from season to season.

She allowed 1.83 goals last season, and in her first season starting, she allowed 2.68.  Her .719 save percentage has also improved, albeit by .001 from last season, and .22 from her sophomore season.

Freese was worrisome of Netto after the first day of practice because of a concussion sustained in a conference tournament game against Missouri State.

“It was more important that she was able to go through every practice in preseason,” Freese said. “When you can be at practice every day, I think you can really build your consistency and that’s what we need out of Anna.”

This is the second consecutive week a CMU player has been named MAC Defensive Player of the Week. Emily Girasole earned the honor, last week.