BOSTON, Mass. – The New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) has announced its weekly field hockey honors and Mount Holyoke College student-athletes Diana Banmann and Ruvimbo Mushavi were recognized. Banmann was named the Offensive Performer of the Week, while Mushavi took home Defensive Performer of the Week honors.
A junior midfielder from Hannover, Germany, Banmann earned her second weekly honor after pouring in a team-best four goals last week to help the Lyons move to 4-0. Three of her tallies came in a 3-2 overtime victory against #11 Amherst, as she lifted MHC to its first win over the Jeffs since 2003 with her hat-trick goal just 1:49 into the extra session.
Banmann also added a goal in Mount Holyoke's 8-0 win over Western New England last weekend. It's the second Offensive Performer award for the former Elsa Branstroem Schule Hannover graduate, who netted four goals in the opening week of play.
Through five games, Banmann leads the Lyons in scoring with 12 goals for 24 points. She has posted a team-high 49 shots, including 37 on goal while also recording two game-winning tallies. Banmann is currently among the nation's best in a number of categories, including second in Division III in goals per game (2.40) and third in points per game (4.80).
Mushavi, a first year defender out of Harare, Zimbabwe, played a critical role in Tuesday's victory against #11 Amherst, making a game-best three defensive saves, all of which came in the second half as the visiting Jeffs attacked the net in an attempt to gain the lead. She also played a solid defensive role in MHC's win over WNEU as the Lyons held the Golden Bears to just four shots in the contest.
Currently, the former Arundel School standout has started all five games and leads the squad with five defensive saves. Among the nation's best, Mushavi ranks fifth in defensive saves. Prior to her arrival at Mount Holyoke, she was a four-year member of the field hockey team at Arundel. A captain, she represented Mashonaland Province all four years and was a member of the Zimbabwe National Team in 2010 and 2012.
The field hockey team (5-0) is back in action on Wednesday when it travels to Simmons for a 7pm contest. The Lyons then close out the week on Sunday at Castleton State (12pm).
