BABSON PARK, Mass. – The New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) has announced its weekly awards in lacrosse and for the second time this season a pair of Mount Holyoke College student-athletes have swept the honors. Molly Macdonald was named the Offensive Player of the Week for the second time, while Liz Malenfant was selected as the Defensive Player of the Week. Both helped the Lyons go 3-0 last week to improve to 6-1 on the year.
A senior attack out of Milton, Mass., Macdonald continued to impress in her senior campaign, recording a team-best 12 points last week. The conference leader in goals and points, she scored 10 goals, including three in a dramatic 11-10 victory over defending NEWMAC Champion Springfield on Sunday. She also assisted on the goal that tied the game at 6-all and then scored the next as the Lyons went on a key 4-0 run in the second half against the Pride.
Macdonald also had an outstanding game against the University of Southern Maine last week during the team's spring trip in Florida. Against the Huskies, she poured in five goals with an assist, while also scooping up a ground ball and winning two draw controls.
Through the first seven games, Macdonald leads the team and the NEWMAC in scoring with 34 points. She is also the league leader in goals with 27 and has added seven assists. Additionally, the former Milton Academy standout has chipped in with four ground balls, nine draw controls and two caused turnovers.
Malenfant, a senior goaltender out of Nantucket, Mass., improved to 6-0 on the season, going 3-0 in goal for the Lyons last week. Currently the NEWMAC leader in saves on the season, she made 17 stops over 158:05 minutes of action, including 10 saves in a dramatic 11-10 victory over Springfield. Several of her saves against the Pride came during a critical stretch in the second half as she stopped a number of direct shots, including a point blank attempt by Springfield with 37 seconds left on the clock.
This is the first Defensive Player of the Week honor for the former White Mountain School (N.H.) standout who owns a 9.31 goals against average – which ranks second in the conference – through seven games. In addition to a .471 save percentage, she has stopped 49 shots over 354:30 minutes of action. Malenfant has also scooped up 12 ground balls and caused three turnovers.
Last season, Malenfant posted a 12.66 goals against average with a .402 save percentage. She went 4-6 overall with 66 saves over 464:20 minutes of action. Additionally, she had 18 ground balls and four caused turnovers.
The Lyons (6-1; 1-0 NEWMAC) return to action on Saturday when they travel to Wellesley for a 12pm match against the Blue.
