Big Ten Release

ROSEMONT, Ill. - Sophomore goalkeeper Claire Wheatley garnered Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors, announced the conference office Monday. Wheatley made a season-high 10 saves in Illinois' 0-0 draw with No. 11 Wisconsin on Friday night. The Plano, Texas, native led the Illini to their eighth shutout of the season and was one save shy of her career high (11).

On Tuesday, Wheatley picked up two more weekly honors. She was named the College Sports Madness National Defensive Player of the Week and selected to Top Drawer Soccer's Team of the Week.

Wheatley collected the conference honor for the first time in her career and is the second Illini to win a weekly honor this season, joining Jannelle Flaws, who was the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 22. Illinois' last Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week was Steph Panozzo on Oct. 24, 2011.

Wheatley has started the last 17 games in goal and played in all 19 contests this season, posting an 8-6-2 record with six solo shutouts along with being part of two other shutouts with sophomore Michelle Denley. She has made 62 saves and allowed 17 goals in 1,625 minutes for a 0.94 goals against average (GAA).

Up Next: No. 7 seed Illinois will square off against No. 2 seed Wisconsin in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 3:30 p.m. CT at the Boilermaker Soccer Complex in West Lafayette, Indiana.