After backstopping the University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team to a series sweep over the University of North Dakota over the weekend, Maddie Rooney has been named the Western Collegiate Hockey Association's Defensive Player of the Week.

The sophomore goaltender helped guide the Bulldogs to a 2-0 shutout Friday night before a 2-1 win Saturday.  The Andover, Minn. native made 24 saves Friday en route to her fifth shutout of the season and seventh of her career.  Saturday, the Bulldogs were outshot by the Fighting Hawks 29-22, but Rooney made 28 saves to secure the Bulldog backline.  North Dakota's goal at 2:36 of the second period broke a 207:11 shutout streak Rooney held entering the game, the longest of her collegiate career. 

Over the weekend, Rooney led the WCHA with a 0.50 goals against average, which also led the nation among netminders that played two games.  She also had a league-high .981 saves percentage (and again led the nation among goaltenders that played two games).  Rooney has played an NCAA-high 1690:53 minutes, ranks eighth with a 1.53 GAA, sixth with a .943 saves percentage and seventh with a winning percentage of .786.

This marks Rooney's third weekly WCHA award this season and of her career.  Rooney was named the league's Defensive Player of the Month this past December.