COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.  - Slippery Rock University goalkeeper Sam Black was named the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Defensive Player of the Week, the organization announced Wednesday.
 
The honor marks the first time in documented program history that a Slippery Rock athlete has earned a weekly award from the NFHCA. Wednesday's announcement comes on the heels of Black being designated the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Defensive Athlete of the Week.
 
Black earned the recognition after helping to lead The Rock to a 2-1 victory on the road last week at Millersville University. The win was SRU's first over the Marauders since 2007 as well as being The Rock's first win in Millersville since 2001.
 
In anchoring Slippery Rock's defense, Black was credited with six saves as SRU improved its undefeated record to 8-0 in 2026. Black's six saves were the most by a PSAC goalie in a victory last week.
 
A transfer from Wagner College, Black has been stellar in her first season at The Rock. A starter in all eight games, Black's recorded a .800 save percentage with 20 stops alongside a 0.74 goals against average.
 
On the Division II national stage, Black ranks sixth among all qualified goalies in GAA and eighth in save percentage. Of the 13 Division II goalkeepers to have played over 400 minutes this season, Black is one of just three athletes to have surrendered no more than five goals.
 
Black is the first Slippery Rock field hockey player to earn a weekly honor from the PSAC since Grace Burker in 2021.
 
Slippery Rock, which was ranked seventh in the nation in the latest NFHCA Top 10 poll, plays a pair of fellow nationally ranked opponents this week 4 p.m. Wednesday at No. 4 Shippensburg and 11 a.m. Saturday against No. 1 Kutztown at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.





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