ITHACA, N.Y. -- Cornell junior Kristen Reese was named the Ivy League's Defensive Player of the Week today, the second time the conference office has bestowed the honor on the two-year starting goalkeeper. Reese and classmate Deirdre Lafferty, who took home the award once, combined to capture three of the league's 10 awards this season for the Cornell defense, the most of any of the Ivy League schools.

Reese did all she could in a near-upset of No. 6 Notre Dame, posting 13 saves and tallying a team season-best five ground balls in an active performance in the cage. Reese made eight saves as Cornell led 6-3 at the half, and notched five more stops and won possession on ground balls three more times after halftime as the powerful Fighting Irish attack came to life. She stoned a pair of free-position shots, one in each half, to keep Cornell in the contest despite being outshot 32-18. Reese and the Cornell defense held UND six goals below its season average, with two of its goals coming against an empty net as Cornell was attempting to get even.

Reese also took home the award on March 9 after helping the Big Red to a win at No. 20 Hofstra. Reese was outstanding in 13-10 win, collecting a career-high 14 saves to stone a Pride offense averaging nearly 14 goals per outing. Reese made saves on Hofstra's first three shots to set the tone and made seven saves in each half to help the Big Red remain unbeaten at 3-0. Reese saved two free-position attempts and had five of her second half saves come with the game in jeopardy, including four with the contest tied. In all, she now has earned Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week honors three times in her career, as well as being named national Defensive Player of the Week by womenslacrosse.com on April 14.