MOUNT PLEASANT - Senior field hockey defender Emily Girasole has been named the Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Week, the conference announced Tuesday.

Girasole was instrumental in a defensive effort against Villanova in the Robert Morris Tournament Championship Game that allowed the Chippewas to mount a second-half comeback to force overtime.

The defense allowed just five shots in the second half, while the Chippewas took 15 to tie the match, 2-2, and force overtime.

Led by Girasole, the Chippewas’ defense allowed only six shots to Radford in the season-opening 2-1 win.

The award is the first of Girasole’s career.

Girasole and the Chippewas have three matches this weekend, including two against ranked opponents. CMU travels to Ann Arbor for neutral field matches against Delaware and No. 22 Maine on Friday and Saturday, respectively, at 11:30 a.m.

No. 11 Stanford awaits the Chippewas in East Lansing on Labor Day Monday for a 1 p.m. match.