HADDONFIELD, N.J. - The Atlantic East Conference announced the Women’s Lacrosse weekly award winners on Monday, with Immaculata’s Keira Benoit being named Player of the Week and Marywood's Avery Meighan being named Defensive Player of the Week.
Player of the Week: Keira Benoit
School: Immaculata
Class: Freshman
Position: Attack
Hometown: Wilmington, Del.
High School: Delaware Military Academy
Brief Outlook of Week: Benoit delivered an outstanding two-game performance, tallying seven goals and five assists for a total of 12 points while also contributing five ground balls, eight caused turnovers, and eight draw controls to lead Immaculata to a pair of victories.
Defensive Player of the Week: Avery Meighan
School: Marywood
Class: Senior
Position: Midfield
Hometown: Floral Park, N.Y.
High School: Floral Park Memorial
Brief Outlook of Week: Meighan helped Marywood on both sides of the field during a 21-14 win at Marymount. Defensively, she produced 12 draw controls, 10 ground balls, and four caused turnovers. She also contributed eight points on four goals and four assists. Her 10 ground balls — her second time reaching double figures this season — were tied for the second-most by any Atlantic East player this season. Her 12 draw controls were a season high.
Weekly Honor Roll:
Kira Bradley, Gwynedd Mercy: Bradley was a silver lining in the Griffins 19-4 loss at Neumann University as the senior midfielder recorded all four of the Griffins' goals with four shots, recovered two ground balls, and three caused turnovers, and one draw control. Her last goal was the 100th of her collegiate career.
Elizabeth Mahmud, Immaculata: Mahmud put together a strong all-around performance across two games, totaling eight ground balls, four caused turnovers, nine draw controls, and seven goals to help lead Immaculata to a pair of victories. In Wednesday’s win over Cedar Crest, she recorded five goals, four ground balls, three caused turnovers, and four draw controls. She followed that up on Saturday with two goals, four ground balls, one caused turnover, and five draw controls in an AEC victory over Centenary that secured a playoff spot for the Mighty Macs.
Tess Valentino, Marymount: Valentino notched six total points on four goals and two assists in Sunday's match up with Marywood.
Natalie Yilanjian, Marywood: Yilanjian led Marywood to a 21-14 win over Marymount with a team-high six goals. She added one assist for a seven-point effort to secure the No. 2 seed. Yilanjian added three draw controls and a caused turnover.
Alena Catka, Neumann: Catka scored eight goals and added an assist as Neumann went 1-1 overall in 1-0 in conference action. Against No. 18 TCNJ, the junior scored three goals and picked up 11 draw controls. She followed with five goals, an assist and five draw controls in a 19-4 win over Gwynedd Mercy to stay undefeated in the Atlantic East.
2026 AEC Women’s Lacrosse Weekly Award Winners:
AEC Player of the Week:
Feb. 23: Mackenzie Morrissette, Marymount
Mar. 2: Alena Catka, Neumann
Mar. 9: Kira Bradley, Gwynedd Mercy
Mar. 16: Kaitlyn Smith, Marywood
Mar. 23: Alena Catka, Neumann
Mar. 30: Avery Meighan, Marywood
Apr. 13: Mackenzie Morrissette, Marymount
Apr. 20: Kira Benoit, Immaculata
AEC Defensive Player of the Week:
Feb. 23: Ava Vautour, Marymount
Mar. 2: Kira Bradley, Gwynedd Mercy
Mar. 9: Danica Kelly, Marywood
Mar. 16: Avery Meighan, Marywood
Mar. 23: Maggie Miller, Neumann
Mar. 30: Kira Bradley, Gwynedd Mercy
Apr. 13: Elizabeth Mahmud, Immaculata
Apr. 20: Avery Meighan, Marywood