Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 2/26/19
After leading the Hawks to their first win of the 2019 campaign last Thursday, Saint Joseph’s senior attacker Francesca Donato (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) and freshman goalkeeper Amber Weedon have been selected the Atlantic 10 Women’s Lacrosse Co-Player of the Week and Defensive Player of the Week, the league office announced on Monday afternoon. Donato earns the recognition for the second time of her career, sharing the honor with George Mason’s Chachi Kelehan, while Weedon takes home her first conference accolade.
The Hawk duo was recognized for performances in SJU’s 17-8 win over city-rival Temple.
Donato recorded a game-high seven points on four goals and three assists. After an 11-point performance against the Owls last spring, Donato has now put up a bolstering 18 points in her last two games against Temple. Her offensive efforts have helped lead the program to its first two-game winning streak against the Owls in the 22-game history of the series.
In her collegiate debut, Weedon (1-0) made six saves vs. seven goals allowed in the initial 54:07 to earn her first collegiate victory. The rookie was strong in net, with four saves in the first half and two in the second, including quite a few stops on point-blank shots.
Donato, Weedon, and the Hawks remain home to host Villanova this Saturday, March 2. Game time is set for noon on Sweeney Field.
CHC’s Reinert, Amaya named CACC’s Defensive and Goalkeeper of Week
Despite landing on the short side of a 19-7 final at Seton Hill University, Chestnut Hill College provided the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Defensive Player and Goalkeeper of the Week in senior midfielder Julia Reinert (Upper Merion) and senior goalkeeper Valeria Amaya, respectively. Reinert retrieved six draws, recovered three ground balls, and caused three turnovers, while offering three points (2 goals, 1 assist). Amaya (0-1) totaled 14 saves and four ground balls in the loss.
CHC men earn sweep of CACC awards
Chestnut Hill College has posted a clean sweep of this week’s Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) awards as junior attack Scott Wilden, freshman goalkeeper Austin Jones and senior midfielder John Bennett (Plymouth Whitemarsh) were respectively named the conference Player, Rookie/Goalkeeper, and Defensive Player of the Week. Thanks to their efforts, Chestnut Hill College claimed a 17-9 victory over Wheeling Jesuit University in their home opener on Saturday, February 23.
Chestnut Hill College (2-0) trailed Wheeling Jesuit University (0-4) for a majority of the first quarter, 5-3, but used a 4-0 second quarter to own a three-goal halftime edge on the Cardinals, 8-5. The real separation came in the third quarter, where Wilden doubled his first-half production with three tallies in a 4-2 frame that left the Griffins up 12-7 heading to the final frame. There, Wheeling Jesuit University snuck back within four goals, 13-9 (8:20), before a 4-0 closing run decided the contest in the Scarlet and Gold’s favor, 17-9.
Wilden’s nine goals set the program’s all-time record for goals in a single game (8, Dylan Klusaritz ’18, at Georgian Court University on 4/11/17). He also recorded an assist and four ground balls. Bennett finished the contest with a goal, two assists, six ground balls, and three caused turnovers, while Jones (2-0) totaled a dozen (12) saves and a ground ball over in a little less than 56 minutes (55:57) in goal.
