Indiana Soccer's Joey Maher Named Big Ten Defensive Player Of The Week

Center back Joey Maher earned his first-career Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors Tuesday. The Hoosiers are rolling in October, and to signify that, the program has landed on the weekly awards board for two straight weeks. Sam Sarver did so last week.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — In two consecutive weeks, Indiana men’s soccer players have appeared on the conference's weekly awards list. 

On Tuesday, captain Joey Maher was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. The center back scored in Indiana’s 2-1 win versus Ohio State on Sunday.

Maher is part of Indiana’s backline that ranks top-10 in goals against average in the nation this season. Tuesday marked the senior’s first-career Defensive Player of the Week Award. Last week, Hoosier forward Sam Sarver achieved his first-career Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Per the league office’s release, the last Indiana player to be named the Defensive Player of the Week was Maher’s former center back partner, Daniel Munie, two seasons ago on Oct. 22, 2021. In the offseason, Munie was selected No. 10 in the MLS SuperDraft by the San Jose Earthquakes.

Maher has started in 12 of the team’s 13 games this season, and has appeared in all 13. His goal against Ohio State was the veteran’s first goal this season and fifth as a Hoosier. 

Indiana’s continues play at 8:30 p.m. ET on Friday at Maryland. The match will air on Big Ten Network. 

Related stories on Indiana Soccer: 

• INDIANA BEATS OHIO STATE 2-1: Captain Joey Maher scored the Hoosiers' first goal, but blamed himself for allowing Ohio State's equalizer. Karsen Henderlong picked him up. CLICK HERE
• INDIANA SOCCER BLANKS EVANSVILLE: Taking a break from Big Ten play, Indiana beat Evansville 2-0 at home Wednesday night. The match was delayed an hour in the second half due to lightning. CLICK HERE
• SEASON OUTLOOK: BACHARACH'S PLACEMENT IN THE MIDFIELD: Defender Hugo Bacharach, starting in the midfield for the first time this season, had two assists Saturday. Bacharach commanded the space; this could be the answer. CLICK HERE
• INDIANA BEATS NO. 19 PENN STATE 2-1 ON THE ROAD: Indiana faced Penn State on the road Saturday at Noon ET, winning 2-1 to leap in the RPI and gain points for the Big Ten title hunt. A recap from Happy Valley: CLICK HERE
• JT HARMS FEATURE: JT Harms dove into goalkeeping at 9 years old. He trained with far older players at academies, but his progress stalled at Duke. At Indiana, a position battle brought humility — and confidence. CLICK HERE