OGDEN, Utah – Sophomore Toni Carnovale has been honored as the Big Sky'S Co-Defensive Player of the Week, the first such honor of her career. She shares the honor with Eastern Washington's Chelsey Hannesson. They are the first defenders to receive the distinction this season.

Carnovale was part of a backline defense that aided in a shutout of Montana and allowed the top offensive team, Eastern Washington, to only three shots on goal. Entering Friday's contest, the Eagles had averaged 1.67 goals a game. She also aided a Portland State defense only allowed their opponents to a corner kick each.

In Friday's match, Carnovale contributed offensively as well scoring the game-tying goal with 42 seconds left in regulation at Eastern Washington. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Carnovale and Hannesson are the first defenders to be named Defensive Player of the Week this season. The last defender to win the honor was PSU defender Tish Parsons Nov. 8 2008.

The Seattle, Wash., native has 15 starts this season and has tallied a goal and an assist. She assisted on Dolly Enneking's game-winning header against Oregon State to open the season. Her only miss this season was against Gonzaga Oct. 4 after she accounted for her fifth yellow card against Utah Valley and was forced to sit a match.

She is part of a defense that is only allowing 1.19 points per game and has had six shutouts through 16 games. In the first half, Portland State has outworked their opponents in the corners, holding a 36-16 advantage and 68-44 advantage overall. Portland State has only been outscored 19-18 this season, compared to 29-15 through 16 games in 2008.

The third-place Vikings (8-6-2, 2-1-1 Big Sky) play their final home matches of the season Friday and Sunday against Idaho State (second-place) and Weber State (sixth-place), respectively.