BIG EAST Attacker Of The Week
Brenda McDermott, Temple, Sr., A
McDermott led the Owls to pivotal back-to-back wins last week, posting a league-high 11 points off six goals and five assists in victories over Villanova and Cincinnati. She scored a hat trick in each outing while adding a pair of assists against the Wildcats and a trio of dishes against the Bearcats. The senior also recorded six ground balls, two draw controls and a caused turnover as Temple remained in the hunt for a BIG EAST Championship slot.
BIG EAST Midfielder Of The Week
Kristen Bandos, Georgetown, Sr., M
Bandos repeats as BIG EAST Midfielder of the Week after stuffing the stat sheet with five points, three goals, two assists, five draw controls and a pair of caused turnovers. The Hoyas were edged by UConn, 9-8, on Wednesday despite Bandos’ two goals and four draw controls. She started GU’s rally midway through the second half, with Georgetown taking the advantage with six minutes to play before UConn scored the game winner with 17 ticks left. In a crucial win over Marquette on Saturday, Bandos scored the game-tying goal with 10 minutes remaining before the Hoyas scored the go-ahead goal with under five minutes to play. Georgetown has won three of its last four to remain in contention for a spot in the BIG EAST Championship.
BIG EAST Defensive Player Of The Week
Taylor Bresnahan, Florida, Jr., D
Bresnahan anchored the Florida defense which surrendered just 6.50 goals per game last week, which included holding then-league scoring leader UConn to just eight goals despite the Huskies entering the game averaging over 13 per tilt. Four of UConn’s eight goals came in the final two minutes of the game when Florida’s starters were subbed out, including Bresnahan. The Bresnahan-led defense limited opponents to a .533 clear percentage compared to the Gators’ .933 mark. For the week, the Florida junior posted six draw controls and two caused turnovers, adding a ground ball at Cincinnati on Wednesday. She finished regular-season play as the Gator leader in caused turnovers with 22.
BIG EAST Freshman Of The Week
Lindsey Ronbeck, Florida, Fr., A
Ronbeck repeats as the league’s top rookie following a nine-point week in wins over Cincinnati and UConn. The freshman led the offensive effort in Florida’s win over the Huskies to claim the BIG EAST regular-season crown and finish undefeated (7-0) in league action. At Cincinnati on Wednesday, Ronbeck totaled two goals, a career-high four assists, two ground balls and a caused turnover before notching a hat trick against UConn to go along with a pair of draw controls. She was credited with the game-winning goal in each contest.
Weekly Honor Roll
Riley Hill, Marquette, So., A
Hill’s week was highlighted by a seven-point showing at Georgetown on Saturday, totaling two goals and five assists – the most dishes by a BIG EAST player this season and most since Jessica Mucci of Villanova dropped six dimes on March 28, 2015. For the week she had three goals and six assists.
Julia Michaels, Villanova, So., GK
Michaels posted a 1-1 record with a .568 save percentage, making double-digit saves in both outings. She totaled an 8.00 goals against average, surrendering just six goals in the Wildcats’ season-ending victory over Vanderbilt on Sunday.
Francesca Whitehurst, Georgetown, Fr., M
Whitehurst helped keep the Hoyas in playoff contention with eight points off five goals and three assists, along with five draw controls in a 1-1 week. Her back-to-back goals to open the second half against Marquette gave Georgetown a three-goal advantage, the most either team led by throughout the contest.