LANCASTER, Pa. - The Atlantic East Conference announced the Women’s Lacrosse weekly award winners on Monday, as Neumann’s Alena Catka and Sarah Kiraly won Player and Defensive Player of the Week honors respectively.
Player of the Week:
Name: Alena Catka
School: Neumann University
Class: Sophomore
Position: Attack/Midfielder
Hometown: Brookhaven, Pa.
High School: Sun Valley
Brief Outlook of Week: Alena Catka scored four goals and added two assists for six points in an 18-2 win over Eastern in Neumann’s lone game of the week. The sophomore added six draw controls and three ground balls.
Defensive Player of the Week:
Name: Sarah Kiraly
School: Neumann University
Class: First-Year
Position: GK
Hometown: West Chester, Pa.
High School: West Chester Rustin
Brief Outlook of Week: Sarah Kiraly picked up her first collegiate win in her first collegiate start in an 18-2 win over Eastern in Neumann’s only game of the week. In 45 minutes, the first year made three saves.
Weekly Honor Roll:
Jacki Murray (5th, Immaculata): Jacki Murray had a combined 14 goals, one assist, 15 points, 11 ground balls, four caused turnovers, and 12 draw controls over three games for Immaculata this week. She had five goals, one assist with six ground balls, three caused turnovers, and two draw controls against Washington and Jefferson on March 10. She had three goals with one ground ball and four draw controls vs Elizabethtown on March 13 and had six goals with four ground balls, one caused turnover, and six draw controls vs Alvernia on Saturday. Murray scored her 200th career goal in Thursday's game at Elizabethtown, to become just the second player in Immaculata program history to reach 200.
Bailey Gehler (Gr., Marymount): Graduate student Bailey Gehler did her job across the field for the Saints in their 1-1 week in Florida. Collecting five points on four goals and an assist, Gehler added seven ground balls, a caused turnover, and five draw controls for Marymount.
Cheyenne Avellino (Sr., Gwynedd Mercy): Avellino totaled 10 points (8 goals, 2 assists) while fueling the Griffin transition to offense with 16 shots, 12 draws, 3 ground balls, and 3 caused turnovers. She opened the week with 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists), 4 shots, 1 ground ball, 1 caused turnover, and 6 draw controls against Kings College (PA) and complimented the effort with six scores, 11 shots, 2 ground balls, 2 caused turnovers, and 5 draw controls in a loss to Bryn Athyn College. Avellino highlighted performance against the Lions with her 100th career ground ball.
Addison Yackel (Fr., Immaculata): Addison Yackel had a combined 14 ground balls, and nine caused turnovers in three games this week for Immaculata. She had three ground balls and five caused turnovers against Washington and Jefferson on March 10. She had four ground balls vs Elizabethtown on March 13, seven ground balls and four caused turnovers vs Alvernia on Saturday.
Previous Weekly Award Winners:
(2/24) - Player of the Week: Jacki Murray, Immaculata; Defensive Player of the Week: Abby Dunn, Marymount
(3/3) - Player of the Week: Ella Baker, Marymount; Defensive Player of the Week: Hannah Smith, Marymount
(3/10) - Player of the Week: Avery Meighan, Marywood; Defensive Player of the Week: Abby Dunn, Marymount