Cheyenne Sprecher, Connecticut
Connecticut, Old Dominion And Villanova Share #BIGEASTfh Weekly Honors
NEW YORK – Villanova’s Megan Vermeil earned BIG EAST Field Hockey Offensive Player of the Week, her first, after the Wildcats posted a 2-0 week. Connecticut keeper Cheyenne Sprecher earned her fourth Defensive Player of the Week accolade after a 12-save weekend helped the Huskies mark back-to-back shutout wins. Old Dominion rookie back Nicole Fredericks was named Freshman of the Week for the third time. ODU posted a 3-2 win over ranked Liberty in BIG EAST play on Friday, and held No. 4 Duke to just one goal in a Sunday loss.
BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week
Megan Vermeil, Villanova, Sr., F (Downington, Pa.)
Villanova senior forward Megan Vermeil scored four goals in a 2-0 week for the Wildcats which included a 2-1 win over Quinnipiac on Friday and an 8-3 win over La Salle on Sunday. Vermeil was second last week in points in league play behind her teammate Lydia Sydnor. Vermeil scored the first goal in the win over the Bobcats, unassisted in the fourth minute. She netted a hat trick against La Salle, scoring the first, fourth and sixth goals. Her three goals came on just four shots on goal.
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week
Cheyenne Sprecher, Connecticut, RS-So., GK (Palmyra, Pa.)
Connecticut sophomore goalie Cheyenne Sprecher earned her fourth Defensive Player of the Week honor as she posted a 2-0 week between the pipes for the third-ranked Huskies. Sprecher marked 12 saves for the week and allowed no goals to score. She had eight saves in a 3-0 win over Providence in BIG EAST action and four in a 3-0 win over No. 10 Delaware.
BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
Nicole Frederiks, Old Dominion, Fr., B (West Chester, Pa.)
Old Dominion back Nicole Fredericks earned her third Freshman of the Week honor as she continued to be a constant presence in the defensive backfield for the No. 22 Monarchs. Fredericks played the entirety of both ODU games last week against ranked opponents. She was a part of a defensive unit that held No. 15 Liberty to two goals in the Monarchs’ 3-2 conference win, and a unit that held No. 4 Duke to just one goal and two penalty corners in ODu’s 1-0 loss on Sunday.
BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Mallory Fortenbaugh, Liberty, Sr., D
Fortenbaugh scored twice in Liberty’s 3-0 win over Longwood on Sunday. Fortenbaugh scored back-to-back goals in the 41st and 48th minutes for the first two goals of the contest. She also helped a defense that held Longwood to just two shots, none on goal.
Tori Horwood, Old Dominion, RS-Sr., F
Horwood scored two goals to collect four points in ODU’s 3-2 league win over No. 15 Liberty on Friday. She scored the game-winner in the 50th minute. It was the first multi-goal effort of her career.
Mary O’Reilly, Providence, Sr., M
Tallied a goal and an assist in Providence’s 4-1 win over New Hampshire. Her assist was on the first goal of the game. She scored in the 53rd minute, unassisted off a turnover. She took three shots, one on goal vs. UConn.
Dani Batze, Temple, Jr., M/B
Batze scored the OT game-winner over Georgetown on Friday, to snap the Owls’ 18-game BIG EAST losing streak. Batze also recorded her team-leading fifth defensive save of the season. The Owls went 1-1 with a 1-0 OT loss to Lafayette on Sunday. Batze took seven shots.