COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Haverford sophomore field hockey goalkeeper Steph Ionescu earned NFHCA Division III Defensive Player of the Week honorable mention after backstopping the Fords to wins over DeSales and No. 16 Franklin & Marshall.

Ionescu, a Wilton, Conn. native, was outstanding in goal across the two victories. She posted a shutout against DeSales with two saves, then followed with a season-high 10 stops to preserve the upset of Franklin & Marshall.

Statistically, Ionescu enters the week ranked third in the Centennial Conference with an 80.8 save percentage. She also owns the league's third-best goals-against average (1.11), a mark that places her 35th nationally.

Her performances capped a milestone stretch for the program. Head coach Jackie Cox recorded her 150th career victory on Saturday, while Haverford set a new standard by defeating three ranked opponents in a single season for the first time in the national poll era. Earlier in September, the Fords topped then-No. 12 SUNY Cortland and No. 12 Rowan.

Each week, the NFHCA recognizes standout athletes across the country with its National Players of the Week awards. Honorable mentions are selected from conference Players of the Week at the Division III level.

Around the national landscape, Colby-Sawyer sophomore forward Brooke Farquhar and Endicott sophomore goalkeeper Faith Minickene collected this week's national Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week awards, respectively. Endicott senior forward Tori Swanson added an honorable mention nod on the offensive side.

Haverford has matched its best start in program history at 8-1 and returns to action Saturday, October 4, hosting McDaniel in Centennial Conference play at Swan Field (12 p.m.).