CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – After helping Albany clinch the No. 2 seed in the 2013 America East Women’s Lacrosse Championship, Albany senior attack Rachael Burek earned Offensive Player of the Week, while teammate Rachel Bowles netted Rookie of the Week accolades.
Also earning honors was Vermont freshman goalie Meg Hopkins, who was named Defensive Player of the Week while helping the Catamounts keep their championship hopes alive.
Stony Brook clinched the No. 1 seed and will host the 2013 America East Championship at LaValle Stadium May 3 and 5.
Burek (Rensselaer, N.Y.) was unstoppable in a pair of victories for the Great Danes. She started the week by scoring two goals while dishing out five assists to total seven points in a 15-6 win over non-conference foe Columbia. The senior then helped Albany clinch the No. 2 seed in the America East Championship with a school record 11 points in a 22-6 win over Binghamton. Burek had four goals and seven assists in the contest.
Hopkins (Penn Yan, N.Y.), making just her second collegiate start in net, was huge in Vermont’s 8-7 win over UMBC to keep the Catamounts playoff hopes alive. Hopkins made seven saves while allowing only seven goals for a conference-best .500 save percentage for the week.
Bowles (Cicero, N.Y.) tallied four goals for the week to lead all freshmen, netting three in Albany’s win over Columbia and another in the victory over Binghamton. The freshman also had four ground balls for the week, two caused turnovers and two draw controls.
2013 America East Women’s Lacrosse Weekly Award Winners
Feb. 18 – Offensive Player of the Week: Claire Petersen (Stony Brook); Defensive Player of the Week: Frankie Caridi (Stony Brook); Rookie of the Week: Laura McHoul (New Hampshire)
Feb. 25 – Offensive Player of the Week: Lindsay Cox (UMBC); Defensive Player of the Week: Kendall Mason (UMBC); Rookie of the Week: Rachel Bowles (Albany)
March 4 – Offensive Player of the Week: Rachael Burek Albany); Defensive Player of the Week: Frankie Caridi (Stony Brook); Rookie of the Week: Ally Adams (Boston U.)
March 11 – Offensive Player of the week: Claire Petersen (Stony Brook); Defensive Player of the Week: Nell Burdis (Boston U.); Rookie of the Week: Rachel Bowles (Albany)
March 18 – Offensive Player of the week: Danielle Etrasco (Boston U.); Defensive Player of the Week: Kathleen Lennon (Albany); Rookie of the Week: Rachel Bowles (Albany)
March 25 – Offensive Player of the week: Demmianne Cook (Stony Brook); Defensive Player of the Week: Kendall Mason (UMBC); Rookie of the Week: Erin McNulty (Binghamton)
April 1 – Offensive Player of the Week: Demmianne Cook (Stony Brook); Defensive Player of the Week: Frankie Caridi (Stony Brook); Rookie of the Week: Nicole Grote (New Hampshire)
April 8 – Offensive Player of the Week: Rachael Burek (Albany); Defensive Player of the Week: Michelle Rubino (Stony Brook); Rookie of the Week: Laura McHoul (New Hampshire)
April 15 – Offensive Player of the Week: Danielle Etrasco (Boston U.); Defensive Player of the Week: Frankie Caridi (Stony Brook); Rookie of the Week: Sofia Robins (Boston U.)
April 22 – Offensive Player of the Week: Rachael Burek (Albany); Defensive Player of the Week: Meg Hopkins (Vermont); Rookie of the Week: Rachel Bowles (Albany)