PHILADELPHIA- Following La Salle Lacrosse’s program-best 2-0 start in conference play, the Atlantic 10 Conference announced its weekly honor roll on Monday afternoon, which included two Explorers. This week’s honorees included senior Jill Davis as the conference’s Player of the Week, while freshman Lauren McDermott was tabbed Rookie of the Week for the second consecutive week.
Davis opened conference play with an offensive outburst this past weekend. In games against St. Bonaventure and Duquesne, Davis combined for 10 goals and one assist, while also scooping up three ground balls. Davis helped La Salle overcome a four-goal deficit with her game-winning goal against Duquesne. On the year, she currently ranks second in the A-10 with 37 points. Davis is also ranked 12th in the nation and second in the conference with 31 goals. Receiving this week’s honor makes it the second time this season that Davis has been named the conference’s Player of the Week. She becomes only the second Explorer to get multiple Player of the Week honors in one season. Jami Wilus was the last to do so, back in 2001 when she was honored three times. Davis scored five goals in both games, which makes it four times in which she’s had at least that many in a game this season.
McDermott picked up her second straight A-10 Rookie of the Week award after gathering eight goals, an assist, a ground ball and five controlled draws in her first pair of conference games this past weekend. Against St. Bonaventure, McDermott tallied a career-high five goals, including the game-winner. In that game, she combined with Jill Davis for nine of the first 10 goals of the second half. The eight goals she scored through her first two A-10 games are the most she’s scored in any two-game span this season. When the Explorers hosted Duquesne, she helped La Salle erase a four-goal deficit and regain its lead when she provided her third goal on the day. McDermott joins classmate Melanie Sarcinello as the only two players to be named A-10 Rookie of the Week this season.
La Salle’s count for recognitions from the A-10 currently stands at 10 for the season. With a 6-4 start to the year, the Explorers are tied with the 2005 squad for their best start in program history.
When the Explorers host the St. Joe’s Hawks on Thursday at 2 p.m. at McCarthy Stadium, Davis and McDermott will look to defend their awards while the team strives for its third win in A-10 play, which would be the most in program history.
