Big South Announces Women's Lacrosse Players of the Week - April 1

Big South Announces Women's Lacrosse Players of the Week - April 1

Bookmark and Share

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) – High Point junior attacker Shannon Smith (Northport, N.Y.) has been named the Big South Women’s Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week, while teammate and sophomore goalie Ava Welsh (Ellicott City, Md.) is the Defensive Player of the Week for games played March 24-30, it was announced today. In addition, Mercer defender Ayla Galloway (Fallston, Md.) has been named the Freshman of the Week.
 
Smith totaled 10 goals and two assists in High Point’s wins over Presbyterian and Winthrop. She recorded four goals, one assist, and a ground ball in HPU’s conference opener at PC on Wednesday. She then posted career highs with six goals and seven points against Winthrop, adding two ground balls and one caused turnover. Smith notched hat tricks in the first quarter of both games and finished the week with two draw controls.
 
Welsh recorded 19 saves and a .633 save percentage across two High Point wins, allowing just 11 total goals in over 104 minutes of action. She finished both games with more saves than goals allowed. The sophomore stopped nine shots on 22 attempts in the Big South opener, limiting PC to seven goals. She followed with 10 saves while allowing just four goals in 45 minutes against Winthrop, shutting out the Eagles in the third quarter for her second scoreless period of the season. Her .714 save percentage against Winthrop marked a career high.
 
Galloway totaled 13 draw controls, two caused turnovers, and two ground balls across two games for Mercer. She matched her career high with two caused turnovers and two ground balls in the midweek matchup against Jacksonville. She then set a career high with 11 draw controls in the Bears’ conference opener against Wofford while helping limit the Terriers to eight goals.
 
Also nominated for Offensive Player of the Week: Paige Harman (Furman), Emma Duchscherer (Gardner-Webb), Madison Rogers (Longwood), Caroline Glus (Mercer), Willow Hammond (Presbyterian), Scarlet Cifarelli (Winthrop) and Emma Stalteri (Wofford).  
 
Also nominated for Defensive Player of the Week: Emma Anderson (Gardner-Webb), Abby Soltys (Mercer), Kayleigh Aitken (Presbyterian), Mikaylah Lindsay (Winthrop) and Brooke Meltcher (Wofford).
 
Also nominated for Freshman of the Week: Lily Toole (Furman), Madison Rogers (Longwood), Emily Currie (Presbyterian), Christina Warren (Winthrop) and Olivia Graebner (Wofford).