CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The women’s lacrosse conference championship bracket is set and the season’s final weekly awards were announced on Monday. Albany and New Hampshire split the weekly awards, as the Great Danes Jess Antelmi and the Wildcats’ Kayleigh Hinkle were honored as Co-Offensive Players of the Week. Also being honored is Albany freshman Rachel Bowles, who was named Rookie of the Week, and New Hampshire goalkeeper Kathleen O’Keefe earned Defensive Player of the Week.
Antelmi (Bridgeport, Conn.) tied the Albany single-game record for goals in a game with eight in a 21-9 win over Vermont. The record was previously held by Melanie Sosnowski against Niagara on March 6, 2010 Antelmi’s eight goals came on just nine shots.
Hinkle (Glenelg, Md.) broke a 5-5 tie with 34 seconds remaining in regulation to lift UNH to a 6-5 victory at UMBC and into the America East tournament. She finished with a game-high four points (2g, 2a). Hinkle had leveled the score, 1-1, midway through the first half and set up the team's second and third goals in a span of 2:12 in the second half to trim a three-goal deficit to one.
Bowles (Cicero, N.Y.) did a little bit of everything for the Great Danes in their win over Vermont. The freshman scored three goals and added two assists to total five points on the offensive end. She also contributed two draw controls and two ground balls, while her three goals came on just four shots.
O’Keefe (Chatham, N.J.) came up big in the cage for New Hampshire as the Wildcats came-from-behind to beat UMBC, 6-5, in what was a winner-take-all game for the spot in the America East Championship. O’Keefe held the Retrievers scoreless for the final 15 minutes of the contest, totaling six saves for the game and a .545 save percentage. The five goals allowed were the fewest for a Wildcats goalie since 2011.
The 2013 women’s lacrosse championship begins on May 3 and is hosted by Stony Brook University. The semifinals will be available live for free on AmericaEast.com and the title game will be televised live nationally on ESPN3 and via the WatchESPN app at 12 p.m. on Sunday, May 5.
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)
April 29 – Offensive Player of the Week: Jess Antelmi (Albany) & Kayleigh Hinkle (New Hampshire); Defensive Player of the Week: Kathleen O’Keefe (New Hampshire); Rookie of the Week: Rachel Bowles (Albany)