IWLCA Players of the Week – May 4, 2021

The IWLCA has chosen six NCAA student-athletes for the IWLCA Player of the Week awards for the week of April 26 – May 2, 2021. This weekly award recognizes the best offensive and defensive performances by players in Division I, II, and III each week during the regular season.

Offensive Player of the Week

Cassidy Spilis – Rutgers University

Spilis scored a career-high nine goals on 11 shots in a 14-24 Big Ten semifinal loss to #2 Northwestern. The sophomore midfielder also added a team-high nine draw controls to help RU earn a 24-16 advantage on the draw.  In the opening round against #23 Ohio State, Spilis recorded four goals, five draw controls, two ground balls and a caused turnover to help the Scarlet Knights to a 19-13 win. Rutgers is currently ranked #16 in the IWLCA Division I Coaches Poll.

Defensive Player of the Week

Taylor Moreno – University of North Carolina

Moreno led the Tar Heels to the 2021 ACC Tournament Championship and was named the Tournament MVP after posting a .611 save percentage and a goals-against average of just 4.78 per game during the Championship run. The senior goalkeeper collected six ground balls, caused two turnovers, made 22 saves, and allowed just 14 goals in three tournament wins: 19-6 over #19 Louisville; 18-4 against #5 Notre Dame; and 9-4 versus #3 Syracuse.

Offensive Player of the Week

Savanah Ernst – Franklin Pierce University

In Franklin Pierce's regular-season finale on Wednesday, Ernst scored five times to lead the Ravens to a victory at Assumption. The junior attacker attempted 10 shots, including seven on goal, and snagged a pair of ground balls. Against St. Michael's in the first round of the NE10 Women's Lacrosse Championship, Ernst tacked on seven more goals, grabbed a ground ball, and added four draw controls to help her team advance to the divisional semifinals.

Defensive Player of the Week

Gabby Tanner – Rollins University

Tanner held then #6 Tampa to a season-low eight goals while making 12 saves and facing 29 shots. The senior goalkeeper limited UT to one goal on seven free-position shots and picked up four ground balls in the victory. Tanner was named the SSC Defensive Player of the Week for her performance in the 14-8 victory, and Rollins improved to #6 in this week’s IWLCA Division II Coaches Poll.

Offensive Player of the Week

Rachel Delate – Messiah College

Delate was named the 2021 MAC Commonwealth Championship MVP after leading the Falcons to the 2021 MAC Commonwealth title with a 17-10 win over then #13 York on Saturday. She finished the title game with five goals, four assists and six draw controls. Delate, a sophomore attacker, finished the tournament with 23 points on 12 goals and 11 assists, while also adding eight ground balls and seven draws. After the win over York, Messiah moved up to #10 in this week’s IWLCA Division III Coaches Poll.

Defensive Player of the Week

Jillian Westerby – The College of New Jersey

Westerby put up six goals, one assist, six caused turnovers, 15 draw controls, and eight ground balls across two NJAC tournament games to help TCNJ win their tenth straight NJAC title. The Lions avenged early season loss to #23 Montclair State with a 16-6 victory in the Championship game. The sophomore midfielder was also named NJAC Defensive Player of the Week, and TCNJ moved up to #14 in the latest IWLCA Division III Coaches Poll.