CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Two players that led Boston University and University of New Hampshire to wins in America East field hockey play over the weekend have earned America East weekly honors for the week ending Oct. 8. The Terriers' Ella Gunson and Wildcats' Carlie Tarbell earned Player and Defensive Player of the Week recognition, respectively, as their teams improved to 2-0 in conference play. Additionally, Vermont's Kelsey Bonner scored three times to take home Rookie of the Week honors. The award winners were announced Tuesday afternoon.
Gunson (Whangarei, New Zealand) scored twice in Boston U.'s 4-2 win at Vermont Saturday to earn Player of the Week accolades. The junior midfielder got her team on the board in the 12th minute with a backhanded shot, then gave her team a 2-1 advantage midway through the second half, re-directing a shot into the back of the cage in the 42nd minute. Gunson, who scored the two goals on just three shots, ranks second among league leaders with six assists and is tied for ninth with 10 points.
Tarbell (Wakefield, Mass.) was the difference maker in #16 New Hampshire's 2-1 overtime win vs. #22 Albany on Friday and earned the Defensive Player of the Week nod as a result. The sophomore goaltender made seven stops, several of them spectacular, to keep the Wildcats in the game until they were able to tie it 1-1 with just 20 seconds remaining. Tarbell, who also made 12 saves in a loss to #7 Virginia on Sunday, extended the game with a blocker save on Jordyn Homyak's shot 1:36 into overtime.
Bonner (Millersville, Md.) scored three times in Vermont's two games last week to earn Rookie of the Week honors. The freshman midfielder helped keep her team close with #12 Boston U., scoring in the 46th minute to tie the game 2-2. She then scored both Catamount goals in their 4-2 loss to Providence on Monday. Bonner leads UVM with four goals and is tied for the team lead with nine points.
In the third America East game over the weekend, Maine outlasted Fairfield, 2-1 in overtime. Conference play continues Friday with Albany visiting Fairfield, New Hampshire hosting Vermont and Boston U. entertaining Maine.
2012 Field Hockey Weekly Award Winners
Aug. 27 - Player of the Week: Jacinda McLeod (Boston U.); Defensive Player of the Week: Jess Maroney (Boston U.); Rookie of the Week: Liza Morgan (Albany)
Sept. 4 - Player of the Week: Felicitas Heinen (Fairfield); Defensive Player of the Week: Valentina Cerda Eimbcke (Boston U.); Rookie of the Week: Meg Carroll (New Hampshire)
Sept. 10 - Player of the Week: Felicitas Heinen (Fairfield); Defensive Player of the Week: Alicia Frisch (Maine); Rookie of the Week: Meg Flatley (New Hampshire)
Sept. 17 - Player of the Week: Hannah Richard (New Hampshire); Defensive Player of the Week: Megan Bozek (New Hampshire); Rookie of the Week: Cassidy Svetek (Maine)
Sept. 24 - Player of the Week: Annabelle Hamilton (Maine); Defensive Player of the Week: Jess Maroney (Boston U.); Rookie of the Week: Rachel Coll (Boston U.)
Oct. 1 - Player of the Week: Tabi Hatch (Boston U.); Defensive Player of the Week: Kristi Troch (Albany); Rookie of the Week: Cassidy Svetek (Maine)
Oct. 8 - Player of the Week: Ella Gunson (Boston U.); Defensive Player of the Week: Carlie Tarbell (New Hampshire); Rookie of the Week: Kelsey Bonner (Vermont)