IWLCA Players of the Week – May 16, 2023

The IWLCA has chosen eight student-athletes for the IWLCA Player of the Week awards for the week ending May 14, 2023. This weekly award recognizes the best offensive and defensive performances by players in Division I, II, and III, each week during the postseason.

Co-Offensive Player of the Week

Kasey Choma – University of Notre Dame

Choma set a career-best 10 points against Mercer University in the first round of the NCAA Division I Women’s Lacrosse tournament. She averaged five goals per game through the first two rounds of the tournament, highlighted by the game-winning tally with 10.1 seconds left in regulation against No. 6 University of Florida to send the Irish to the NCAA quarterfinals. She recorded 14 total shots, all on goal, and went 1-for-1 from the free position line over the two-game stretch. Choma leads the sixth-ranked scoring offense in the nation with the Irish averaging 15.90 goals per game. She is currently ranked eighth nationally in goals with 68. Notre Dame is set to face No. 2 Boston College this Thursday for its quarterfinal matchup.

Co-Offensive Player of the Week

Isabella Peterson – James Madison University

Peterson became James Madison’s career record leader in points (273) as well as the single-season record holder in goals (89) this past weekend, as the Duke’s defeated No. 14 Army West Point and No. 11 University of Maryland en route to an NCAA Division I Championship Quarterfinal appearance. She also tied JMU’s single-season record in points (112) after her combined 11-goal, three-assist performance. Her seven goals scored against Maryland was the third time this season she has reached that offensive benchmark. She also set a career-high with 15 shots against Army and went 7-for-8 (.875) against Maryland. She was also 2-for-2 on the free position against the Terps. James Madison will take on No. 3 Syracuse University in Thursday’s quarterfinal.

Co-Defensive Player of the Week

Katie Detwiler – Loyola University Maryland

In Friday’s NCAA Division I Championship first-round matchup, Detwiller held Fairfield University’s leading point scorer, Olivia Doody, to just one assist, as the Greyhounds defeated the Stags, 11-6. In Loyola’s 9-8 second-round victory over No. 10 Stony Brook University, Detwiller’s defensive presence held the Seawolves’ leading scorer, Ellie Massera, to just one goal. She also added her sixth career goal to the matchup, which ultimately started a 4-0 Loyola run. Up next for the Greyhounds is the No. 1 seeded Northwestern University Wildcats.

Co-Defensive Player of the Week

Trinity McPherson – University of Denver

McPherson registered five ground balls, two draw controls and three caused turnovers in Round 1 against No. 18 University of Southern California. Her five ground balls against USC are tied for the third-most in an NCAA Tournament game in school history. McPherson followed up with three ground balls, four draw controls, and two caused turnovers in No. 5 Denver’s second-round victory over University at Albany. McPherson currently sits at 59 ground balls on the season, the sixth most in a campaign in school history. She is one shy of tying for fifth and seven shy of matching the school record (66). The 21-0 Pioneers will take on the defending NCAA Division I Champs, No. 4 University of North Carolina, this Thursday for their Quarterfinal matchup.

Offensive Player of the Week

Lizzy Lynch – Florida Southern College

Lynch is now the sixth player in program history to achieve 200 career points. She combined for 13 points in the first two rounds of the NCAA Division II Tournament. Seven of those points came against N0. 10 Flagler College, while the remaining six came in the Moc’s 15-9 second-round victory over No. 2 University of Tampa.

Defensive Player of the Week

Sarah Krause – Grand Valley State University

Krause set career-highs in saves in both games this past weekend, originally setting it with 10 in the NCAA DII Midwest Regional Semifinal win over No. 7 Regis University, then breaking it with 12 saves in the Regional Finals against No. 5 University of Indianapolis. With the 11-10 victory over UIndy, the Lakers will make a Final Four appearance for the first time in program history, facing West Chester this Friday.

Offensive Player of the Week

Caroline Sullivan – Gettysburg College

In No. 9 Gettysburg's 15-6 second-round NCAA tournament win over No. 24 Christopher Newport University, Sullivan led the Bullets with three goals and four assists. She also added three ground balls and one draw control as well. Sullivan is currently second on the team in points (74) and leads the program and the Centennial Conference in assists (43). She is also the team leader in ground balls (37) for the season. Gettysburg will take on No. 2 Washington and Lee in the third round on Saturday.

Defensive Player of the Week

Caroline O’Dea – Denison University

O'Dea made 14 saves and had a .609 save percentage during Denison's 10-9 triple overtime win over No. 17 University of Chicago in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday. She had seven saves, two caused turnovers, and two groundballs in an 18-10 win over Hope College the day before in the first round of the tournament. Combined for the week, she had 21 saves and 18 goals allowed for a .525 save percentage and had a 7.90 goals-against average. This is her second IWLCA Player of the Week honor this season. O’Dea and the Big Red take on No. 8 Franklin and Marshall College this Saturday for the third round of the NCAA Division III tournament.