It might be a new season, but it’s the same Nikki Coryell (Aurora, Ill./Metea Valley) in goal for the Valpo soccer team. The two-time reigning Missouri Valley Conference Goalkeeper of the Year was named the MVC Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday after posting a pair of clean sheets to open the 2022 campaign.

Coryell needed to make just two saves for the season-opening shutout of Eastern Illinois last Thursday, but the second was a lunging, outstretched effort diving to her left to parry a shot away in the waning seconds to preserve the 0-0 draw. She then followed up with two saves on Sunday in Valpo's 1-0 win over Youngstown State.

With the pair of clean sheets to start off the season, Coryell now owns 14 career shutouts — tied for fourth in program history with Sydney Galvez-Daley and one away from becoming just the 18^th goalkeeper in MVC history with 15 or more clean sheets. She has posted a shutout in nearly half of her 32 career starts in goal.

Coryell and the rest of the Beacons return to action Friday evening with a trip to Colorado.