Boston University's Pam Spuehler (Sudbury, Mass./Lincoln-Sudbury) and Albany’s Devon Switzer (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield Central) share this week’s America East Player of the Week while Lauren Alfaro (Linwood, N.J./Lawrenceville School) garners Rookie of the Week Honors. The awards were announced Monday (October 31).
Spuehler led the Terriers to a pair of wins, scoring the game winner in a 2-1 double overtime triumph at Harvard on Wednesday before assisting on the eventual game-winning goal in Boston U.’s 3-1 victory at Maine. Against the Crimson, the sophomore took a lead pass from junior Erin Calamari before drawing out the goalkeeper and sliding the ball inside the near post. In the matchup with Maine, Spuehler dribbled into the circle and submitted a perfect pass to the far post, where classmate Sarah Shute was there to tip in the Terriers’ second goal of the contest.
Switzer, a senior, notched the game-winning goal against Vermont on Oct. 29 to propel Albany into its first-ever Division I playoff appearance. The tally came on an assist from Tina Bryson at the 53:44 mark, almost 27 minutes after Albany came back to tie the score at 1-1. It was Switzer’s first career goal, coming in what would have been her last game as a Great Dane.
Alfaro capped a productive first half in Boston U.’s 3-1 victory at Maine, scoring her fourth goal of the season with 1:25 left before intermission to give the visitors a commanding 3-0 lead. From seven yards out, she redirected an entry ball from senior Colleen McClay to help the Terriers earn home-field advantage for the America East tournament.