IWLCA Players of the Week – March 15, 2022

The IWLCA has chosen nine student-athletes for the IWLCA Player of the Week awards for the week ending March 13, 2022. This weekly award recognizes the best offensive and defensive performances by players in Division I, II, III, and the NAIA each week during the regular season.

Co-Offensive Player of the Week

Aurora Cordingley – University of Maryland

Cordingley had an 11-point game (six goals, five assists) to lead No. 4 Maryland to a dominant 19-7 win over Villanova on Sunday. She tallied five points in the first half (three goals, two assists) and six points in the second half (three goals, three assists) to lead Maryland to a 19-goal output. Cordingley became only the sixth Terp ever to have an 11-point game in the 49 year history of the program, and her six goals tied a career-high. Cordingley leads the NCAA in points per game (7.67 per game), and leads the Big Ten in goals per game and assists per game. Against the Wildcats, she also totaled a game-high and career-high five ground balls and caused a turnover on the ride.

Co-Offensive Player of the Week

Ellie Masera – Stony Brook University

Masera totaled 10 points with nine goals and an assist in a loss to No. 4 Northwestern and a win over No. 16 Johns Hopkins last week. Her five goals against the No. 4 Wildcats are a career-high. She also added 10 draw controls, seven ground balls, and caused three turnovers in the two games. The Seawolves are 3-2 and ranked No. 6 in the ILWomen/IWLCA Division I Poll this week.

Defensive Player of the Week

Sam Thacker – University of Denver

Thacker and the Pioneers faced two of the top scoring offenses in Division I last week, and the defense limited both No. 1 Boston College and No. 8 Michigan to single-digit goals in a 1-1 week. Both teams were held to season-low goal totals, including nine for the Eagles and eight for the Wolverines. Thacker tallied four caused turnovers per game, while adding a total of three ground balls and four draw controls over the two-game span. Denver’s record now stands at 7-1 and the Pioneers are ranked No. 9 in the ILWomen/IWLCA Division I Poll this week.

Offensive Player of the Week

Abigail Lagos – University of Indianapolis

Lagos posted a season high two assists over No. 1 Le Moyne in leading the Greyhounds to an 11-10 win in the Carrier Dome last weekend. She scored three goals, leading the team in goals, and notched the game winning goal. The win put the 5-0 Greyhounds into the top spot in the ILWomen/IWLCA Division II Poll this week.

Defensive Player of the Week

Kara Antonucci – University of Indianapolis

Antonucci led the team defensively in their win over No. 1 ranked Le Moyne. The senior defender shut down Le Moyne’s Erin McGuire, holding her scoreless while helping hold the Le Moyne offense to just 10 goals. Antonucci also contributed three draw controls on the day, helping the Greyhounds claim the No. 1 spot in this week’s ILWomen/IWLCA Division II Poll.

Offensive Player of the Week

Brenna Turner – Alfred University

Turner broke the Alfred school record and tied the Empire 8 single game record with 11 goals, including the game-winner, in a 21-19 win over SUNY Potsdam on March 7. Her 14 points also set Alfred and Empire 8 single-game marks. Turner also added three ground balls and three draw controls in the contest, leading the Saxons to a 2-0 start for the first time since 2013.

Defensive Player of the Week

Hannah Goodwin – Roger Williams University

Goodwin’s career high 19 saves helped RWU defeat No. 9 Colby, 13-10, last week. The win was the first over a nationally ranked team in program history. The senior goalkeeper’s performance was the fourth highest single game save total in RWU history. The Hawks are 4-1 and received votes in this week’s ILWomen/IWLCA Division III Poll. 

Offensive Player of the Week

Kady Waits – Lawrence Technological University

Waits led her team offensively with nine goals last week, as the Blue Devils upset No. 1 Keiser 12-9, and took down Ave Maria 13-6. The senior midfielder was a force all over the field, as she added two draw controls, 10 ground balls, and caused eight turnovers. Lawrence Tech is currently ranked third in the NAIA Women’s Coaches Top 10 Poll.

Defensive Player of the Week

Leanne Windon – Life University

Windon led the defense in three games last week, helping the Running Eagles to defeat Marian and No. 9 Siena Heights, and almost taking down No. 6 Benedictine. The junior defender posted a total of 13 draw controls, 15 ground balls and 19 caused turnovers. Life is now 8-2 and currently ranked No. 4 in the NAIA Women’s Coaches Top 10 Poll.