CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – America East women’s lacrosse teams opened the season this past weekend, and three teams notched wins in their 2014 debuts. Stony Brook, New Hampshire and Vermont each came away with victories at home. Vermont’s Vanessa VanderZalm took home the first Offensive Player of the Week award, helping the Catamounts win against Colgate. Stony Brook grabbed by Defensive Player of the Week with Frankie Caridi and Rookie of the Week with Courtney Murphy in an impressive victory against Bucknell. Here are the season’s first weekly awards:
Offensive Player of the Week
Vanessa VanderZalm, So., M, Vermont
Pelham, Ontario
- Led Vermont with a game-high five points, scoring three goals and two assists in a, 14-11, win over Colgate
- Notched the game-winning goal at the 16:52 mark of the second half.
- Also added a team-high six ground balls to go with four caused turnover and six draw controls.
Defensive Player of the Week
Frankie Caridi, Sr., GK, Stony Brook
East Northport, N.Y.
- Stopped nine of the 10 shots she faced in helping Stony Brook to a win over Bucknell.
- Anchored a defense that set a school record for fewest goals allowed in a single game.
Rookie of the Week
Courtney Murphy, Fr., A, Stony Brook
Shirley, N.Y.
- Scored a game-high seven goals and added one assist for eight points in her collegiate debut, helping Stony Brook beat Bucknell, 18-1.
- Shattered the Stony Brook school record for most goals by a freshman in a debut, more than doubling the previous record of three.
- Also broke the Stony Brook record for most points by a freshman with eight, topping the previous mark of five.
- The seven goals tie Katilin Leggio, Demmianne Cook and Claire Petersen for second in Seawolves single-game history.
Around the League
- Stony Brook is ranked 13th in the IWLCA poll and 14th in the media poll
- The Seawolves are 3-0 in openers under Joe Spallina.
- New Hampshire and Vermont joined Stony Brook with season-opening wins.
- UNH’s Laura Puccia extended her goal streak to six-straight games with three against Hofstra.
- The Wildcats won their season-opener for the first time since 2011 and first home opener since 2010, holding Hofstra scoreless for a span of 30:21 to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 4-1 lead.
Feb. 18 – Offensive Player of the Week: Vanessa VanderZalm, M, So., Vermont; Defensive Player of the Week: Frankie Caridi, Sr., GK, Stony Brook; Rookie of the Week: Courtney Murphy, Fr., A, Stony Brook