IWLCA Players of the Week – March 29, 2022
IWLCA has chosen 10 student-athletes for the IWLCA Player of the Week awards for the week ending March 27, 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
Isabella Peterson – James Madison University
Peterson led all players in scoring on Saturday in the Dukes’ upset over No. 3 Maryland, 13-8. The attacker notched five goals, one assist, five draw controls and a ground ball on her stat line. She has put up a hat trick and at least five draws in each of JMU's last three games, all of which were against top-20 opponents. James Madison improved to 6-4 with the win and are now ranked No. 12 in the latest ILWomen/IWLCA Division I Poll.
Co-Offensive Player of the Week
Kate Shaffer – University of Connecticut
Shaffer tallied 11 goals and one assist for 12 points in a 2-0 stretch for the Huskies, who improved to 8-1. The junior had six of UConn’s 16 goals in a 16-11 win at Albany on Tuesday, before going for five goals and an assist in a 15-11 home win over Hofstra on Saturday. Shaffer notched the game winner against the Pride while also adding a ground ball in each contest. Connecticut is now ranked No. 21 in the ILWomen/IWLCA Division I Poll.
Defensive Player of the Week
Molly Dougherty – James Madison University
Dougherty made 11 key saves against the Terps, leading JMU to a 13-8 victory. She made seven of those saves in the second half for a .778 save percentage in the final two quarters. Her efforts held a potent Maryland offense to eight goals after the Terps had scored 15 or more in every game prior. The senior goalkeeper added two ground balls to the stat sheet, helping the Dukes improve to 6-4 on the season.
Offensive Player of the Week
Bridget Considine – Lindenwood University
Considine tallied 12 points for the Lions in a 1-1 week that saw Lindenwood fall to No. 12 Regis, 13-10, and bounce back with an 18-6 win over Colorado Mesa. The attacker put up four goals, one assist, and two draw controls at Regis, and added three goals, four assists, and a draw control against Mesa. Lindenwood’s record now stands at 7-2 and they are ranked ninth in the ILWomen/IWLCA Division II Poll.
Defensive Player of the Week
Payton Romig – University of Indianapolis
Romig racked up 32 draw controls in the Greyhounds’ 2-0 week. In the 15-8 win over No. 16 Tampa, the midfielder posted two goals, a ground ball and 18 draw controls. Romig added a pair of goals, three ground balls, a caused turnover and 14 draw controls in the 14-6 win against Walsh. Indianapolis is now ranked second in the ILWomen/IWLCA Division II Poll with a 7-1 record.
Offensive Player of the Week
Annie Eddy – Colby College
Eddy scored the game-winning goal in overtime as Colby took down previously unbeaten and top-ranked Salisbury University on Saturday. She had four goals, two assists, two ground balls and caused a turnover in the game. Earlier in the week, Eddy tallied two goals as Colby beat #13 Hamilton, 10-9, handing them their first loss of the season. The junior attacker scored two goals, including the game-tying goal with 18 seconds left to play in the fourth quarter, and added two ground balls and two caused turnovers. Colby (6-1) is now ranked No. 6 in the ILWomen/IWLCA Division III Poll.
Defensive Player of the Week
Caroline Kranich – Washington and Lee University
Kranich had her best week of the season, earning two wins in goal for the Generals. She finished with seven saves, one ground ball and two caused turnovers against Williams and followed that with 10 saves, six ground balls and two caused turnovers at No. 11 York (Pa.). For the season, Kranich has a 6.44 goals-against average and a .505 save percentage. Washington and Lee currently sits in the No. 3 spot in the ILWomen/IWLCA Division III Poll.
Co-Offensive Player of the Week
Marissa Cirino – Siena Heights University
Cirino was a key performer in the No. 9 Saints 1-1 week. She posted five goals, three assists, five ground balls, six draw controls and four caused turnovers in the loss to Concordia. Cirino, a senior midfielder, scored six goals and added three assists, eight draw controls, and three ground balls and three caused turnovers in a win over Lourdes.
Co-Offensive Player of the Week
Madison Andrews – Keiser University
Andrews had her best performance of her career against Montreat, breaking the school record for goals (8) and points (10) in a game, while adding seven draw controls, three ground balls and two caused turnovers to her stat line. Andrews followed that up with five goals, one assist, five draw controls, two ground balls and a caused turnover in a win over Truett McConnell. Keiser improved to 8-3 and are ranked No. 3 in the NAIA poll.
Defensive Player of the Week
Alexis Villarini – Aquinas College
Villarini paced the Aquinas defense in a pair of WHAC victories, totaling 10 ground balls, nine draw controls, and seven caused turnovers in the wins. The sophomore defender also added two goals and an assist for the Saints. Villarini notched five ground balls in each game, while adding seven draw controls and three caused turnovers against Indiana Tech, then totaling four caused turnovers in the win at Concordia.