Moon Township, Pa. - Senior safety Cameron Chadwick (Vista, Calif. / College of Canyons) of the Robert Morris University football team was selected as the Northeast Conference (NEC) Defensive Player of the Week in an announcement made by league officials Monday afternoon.

Chadwick earned the accolade after playing a pivotal role in shutting down Sacred Heart’s offense as RMU rallied for a 21-17 victory in Connecticut this past weekend.

Chadwick’s award, his first-ever NEC honor, makes him the second Colonial to be recognized in the league’s defensive player of the week category in 2012, joining true freshman cornerback Marcelis Branch (Homestead, Fla. / Miami Southridge). This season now marks the eighth time in program history in which multiple Colonials were honored in the defensive category in the same season, including the third time in the past four years.

Chadwick was all over the field for the Colonials defensively this past Saturday and helped limit Sacred Heart to the NEC’s lowest point total in Week 11. He helped lead a RMU defense that conceded just 10 points to the Pioneers, including only 87 yards of total offense in the second half, as the Colonials allowed their opposition just one offensive touchdown for the third straight game.

Chadwick had a career-best two interceptions against Sacred Heart and also contributed nine tackles, a pass breakup and a half tackle for loss. Chadwick’s second interception sealed the victory for Robert Morris as he picked off a game-winning Hail Mary attempt right near the goal line. Six of Chadwick’s nine tackles stopped the opponent short of a first down and six of his hits were also of the solo variety.

Chadwick teamed up for what proved to be a decisive stop as he helped plug the hole on a Pioneer rushing attempt on a goal-line rush from the 1-yard line. That tackle helped keep Sacred Heart out of the end zone and force a field goal try. Chadwick’s pass breakup came on third down when he leveled a Pioneer receiver that had initially caught the ball but was unable to hang on after Chadwick’s big blow. It was Chadwick’s effort that allowed Robert Morris to get the ball back and embark on the game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter as he made solo tackle on a third-down play, forcing the Pioneers to punt in the waning minutes of the game.

With his performance, Chadwick became just the second Colonial in the past five years to tally multiple interceptions in a single contest.

Chadwick has 57 tackles for the season, including 30 solo stops, and moved his career tackle total to 137 since transferring into the program.

Chadwick’s award makes him the 20th distinct Colonial in program history to claim a NEC Defensive Player of the Week honor. Those 20 student-athletes have combined for 36 overall weekly defensive selections, including Chadwick’s one Monday.

The Colonials will look to end their season on a strong note as they go for their third straight win this Saturday, Nov. 17, against Monmouth. The opening kickoff is set for Noon.