#BIGEASTfh Weekly Honors Divided Among Old Dominion and Villanova
NEW YORK – Villanova senior forward Lydia Sydnor posted 13 points in a 2-0 week for Villanova to earn BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week honors. Old Dominion scored two of the three weekly accolades as senior back Rebecca Birch was named Defensive Player of the Week and rookie back Nicole Fredricks earned Freshman of the Week accolades.
BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week
Lydia Sydnor, Villanova, Sr., F (Bryn Mawr, Pa.)
Villanvoa senior forward Lydia Sydnor helped the Wildcats to a 2-0 week with 13 total points. Sydnor scored four goals and added an assist in Villanova’s Friday night matchup against Wagner. In Sunday’s game against Penn, she scored two of Villanova’s three goals and assisted the third. Her nine-point performance against Wagner leads the league, as does her four goals.
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week
Rebecca Birch, Old Dominion, Sr., B (Leeds, United Kingdom)
Old Dominion senior back Rebecca Birch helped lead a defensive unit that allowed just two goals in three victories last week, 3-1 win over William & Mary, 2-1 victory over then-No. 17 Penn State and a 2-0 win over Virginia Commonwealth. Combined for the week, ODU’s defense allowed just 13 shots on goal. Adding to her defensive minutes, Birch totaled six points on the week with two goals and two assists, including the game-winner against No. 17 Penn State in the 50th minute.
BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
Nicole Fredricks, Old Dominion, Fr., B (West Chester, Pa.)
Old Dominion freshman back Nicole Fredricks played all 180 possible minutes in a 3-0 week for the Monarchs which included a 3-1 win over William & Mary, a 2-1 win over then-No. 17 Penn State and a 2-0 win over Virginia Commonwealth. Fredricks was never subbed out of a game, and helped lead a defensive unit that allowed just 13 shots on goal, two goals scored.
BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Lydia Rice, Providence, Grad, GK
Rice, who has not allowed a goal in the last 212:33 minutes of action, grabbed a one goal shutout, shootout victory over Lafayette last week. She made six saves in 80 minutes, and sealed the victory for the Friars with three saves in a 3-1 shootout win. Providence is 2-0 this season in overtime games.
Hedda Biermann-Ratjen, Quinnipiac, Fr, GK
Biermann-Ratjen made her first career start and earned her first career win and shutout in the Bobcats’ 2-0 win against Sacred Heart in the home opener. She made six saves, all in the second half, to help the shutout effort.
Jordan McGinley, Villanova, So., GK
McGinley went 2-0 last week in net for Villanova with wins over Wagner and Penn. She made a combined 10 saves and allowed five goals.