GNAC Field Hockey Athlete of the Week Report #2

Offensive Player Of The Week

Emma Gragen, Dean (So.)

Sophomore Emma Gragen led the charge offensively for Dean in two non-conference victories as she compiled 11 points for the Bulldogs. Gragen was responsible for every Dean goal in their win over WestConn on Wednesday, collecting two goals/assists apiece while following up with two goals and an assist in a win over Manhattanville in which she scored the game-winner for the Bulldogs on Friday.

Defensive Player Of The Week

Shea Cassani, Dean (Jr.)

Junior Shea Cassani anchored a Dean defense that allowed only two goals per game in contests this past week. Cassani collected a defensive save in a 4-1 win over WestConn and added another defensive save vs. Marywood.

Goalkeeper Of The Week

Ashlee Blashock, Colby-Sawyer (So.)

Sophomore Ashlee Blashock had a phenomenal week in net for the Chargers as she would tie her career high in saves against Keene St. with 11 (85%) and would follow that performance with an 18 save effort against Thomas (Me.) with a 90% save percentage. With 29 saves over two games, she averaged 14.5 per game on the week for the Chargers (87.9%).

Rookie of the Week

Ava Markham, Saint Joseph's (Maine) (Fr.)

First-year Ava Markham scored her first collegiate goal, which proved to be the game-winner, in a 4-1 triumph over GNAC-rival Lasell University on Saturday.

WEEKLY HONOR ROLL

Sara Gardner, Dean - Collected 19 saves for the Bulldogs on a 86.4% save percentage while only allowing three goals on the week. Had nine saves in 30 minutes of action vs WestConn and followed up with 10 against Marywood.

Makenzie Anderson, New England College- Conceded one goal against Clark University on Wednesday with seven saves before posting a clean sheet shutout in their conference opener against Albertus Magnus on Saturday.

Martina Hill, New England College - Was the unquestioned leader of the NEC defense that held Albertus Magnus to zero shots on goal on Saturday. Hill was incredibly impactful on limiting scoring chances anywhere close to the Pilgrim net, snuffing out the Falcons' offensive opportunities before they materialized. She also scored her first goal of the season on a penalty corner.

Kimberly McLaughlin, Saint Joseph's (Maine) - Collected 13 saves in a 1-1 week for the Monks with a 81.3% save percentage and 1.5 goals allowed. She stopped seven shots against Thomas (Me.) before adding six in a conference victory over Lasell.

Maya Waryas, Saint Joseph's (Maine) - Tallied three goals and two assists for eight points during a 1-1 opening week. She netted the Monks' lone goal in a 2-1 setback at Thomas College on Wednesday before factoring into all four SJC scores in a 4-1 win over Lasell University on Saturday. With her second goal in the victory, Waryas became just the fifth player in program history to eclipse the 100-career-point milestone.

Devan Fox, University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) - Anchored a defensive backline for USJ in a 2-0 week which included a 5-0 shutout against Gordon in the Blue Jays' home opener Wednesday. Added a goal vs. Gordon and assisted on one in the following game vs. Ramapo.

Grace Kociszewski, University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) - Powered the Blue Jays' offense in a 2-0 week, finishing with seven points by scoring a goal and adding an assist in a 5-0 shutout versus Gordon in USJ's home opener on Wednesday. Followed that up with a pair of goals, including what proved to be the game-winning goal, in a 5-3 triumph at home over Ramapo on Saturday.

ABOUT THE GREAT NORTHEAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 14 member institutions and over 4000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 20 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.

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