NEW YORK – Four teams started play this weekend for BIG EAST field hockey. Liberty, Connecticut and Temple all earned victories, while Old Dominion fell short in overtime. Liberty’s Daniella Rhodes, UConn’s Kourtney Kennedy and Temple’s Kaitlyn Cummins each earned BIG EAST weekly honors for their contributions.
 
BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week.
Daniella Rhodes, Liberty, So., F (Durban, South Africa)
Liberty sophomore Daniella Rhodes picked up right were she left off last season as the 2019 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year. Rhodes registered five points (2G, 1A), having a stick in all three goals of the Lady Flames’ 3-1 win at Davidson Sunday morning to open the season. Rhodes scored what proved to be the game-winning goal 28 seconds in the second half (30:28) to give Liberty a 1-0 lead. Rhodes added an empty net goal at 59:45 to seal the 3-1 triumph and assisted on the Jill Bolton’s goal in the 35th minute, making it 2-0 Liberty.
 
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week
Kourtney Kennedy, UConn, Sr., B (Watertown, Mass.)
Connecticut senior back Kourtney Kennedy helped lead a defensive unit that held opponent Hofstra to just one shot on goal as the Huskies earned their first win of the season, 5-0, over the Pride. In addition to keeping Hofstra scoreless, Kennedy added two goals and one assist giving her assistance on both ends of the field.
 
BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
Kaitlyn Cummins, Temple, Fr., M/F (Laurel Springs, N.J.)
Temple rookie Kaitlyn Cummins earned her first career start in her collegiate debut against Hofstra. Cummins recorded one shot, putting it on target. It was Cummins who earned the penalty corner that set up the Owls’ game-winning goal.                    
 
BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Sophie Hamilton, UConn, So., M
Hamilton contributed five points in Connecticut’s 5-0 win over Hofstra on Saturday. The sophomore scored two goals and added an assist.
Riley Taylor, Old Dominion, Jr., F
Scored both goals in a 3-2 overtime loss to VCU, her second game with two goals in her career.
Delphine Le Juene, Old Dominion, So., M/B
Le Juene had two shots on target in the OT loss to VCU. One of her attempts was saved by the VCU goalie with 10 minutes remaining.
Dani Batze, Temple, Sr., B
Registered the assist on the game-winning goal as Temple defeated Hofstra 1-0. Batze led a defensive unit that held the Pride to one shot on goal.
Veronika Novakova, Temple, Grad Student, M
Scored the game-winning goal off the deflection from Dani Batze in her first game with the Owls.