Big South Announces Women's Lacrosse Players of the Week - March 26
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) – Wofford midfielder Emma Stalteri (Fredericksburg, Va.) has been named the Big South Women’s Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week, while Radford defender Josie Helpard (Bristow, Va.) and Wofford goalkeeper Ella Smithers (Williamsville, N.Y.) are the Defensive Co-Players of the Week for matches played March 18-24, it was announced today. In addition, Presbyterian midfielder Emma Claire Mills (Milton, Ga.) has been named the Freshman of the Week.
Stalteri combined for nine points on eight goals and one assist in two games for the Terriers. She added one caused turnover, two ground balls and one draw control. The sophomore opened the week by scoring a hat trick with three goals against Queens, including a pair of scores in the second quarter followed by a third in the fourth. Stalteri then set new career highs in points (6) and goals (5) on Saturday to lead Wofford to a 22-14 win over Kennesaw State. All seven of her shots went on goal while also tacking on one assist, two ground balls and one draw control.
Helpard caused a season-high four turnovers and tallied a career-high six ground balls – both game highs – in an 8-7 loss to Akron in four overtimes. She held the Zips’ top goal scorer to just one goal on only two shots while anchoring a Radford defense that refused to allow a single goal on three man-down scenarios. Helpard prevented multiple fast break attempts with her speed, and she helped the Highlanders to finish a near-perfect 18-of-19 on clears while playing a major role in at least 11 of them.
Smithers recorded a career-high 20 saves in Wofford’s victory over Kennesaw State on Saturday, a mark tied for second-most in the nation this season. She posted a .590 save percentage on 39 shots faced while limiting the nation’s fourth-ranked scoring offense to only 14 goals. Her 20 saves set a new program record at Wofford and are tied for the second-most in a single game in Big South history. Smithers played all 120 minutes in two games and combined for 25 saves on the week.
Mills helped lead Presbyterian to its first victory of the season behind the second multi-goal performance of her career. She scored two goals on three shots – all of which were sent on goal – and tied for game-high with three ground balls while adding two draw controls in an 11-6 win over Central Connecticut State. The Milton, Ga. native scored two unassisted goals within a 35-second window during the third quarter and was responsible for two of the team’s three goals in the second half to help preserve a lead for the Blue Hose.
Also nominated for Offensive Player of the Week: Kay Rosselli (High Point), Caroline Glus (Mercer) and Willow Hammond (Presbyterian).
Also nominated for Defensive Player of the Week: Julia Koenig (Longwood), Kate Vanderlinde (Mercer) and Kayleigh Aitken (Presbyterian).
Also nominated for Freshman of the Week: Ariana Tucci (Longwood), Ansley Walters (Mercer) and Brooke Meltcher (Wofford).