When an honor normally reserved for one player is given to two, it is typically because no single player stands out enough to earn the award alone. That wasn't the case, however, when the NESCAC awarded Co-Player of the Week honors in women's lacrosse last week -- they were for arguably the two best performances in the conference all season.
The first of the two receiving the honor was Colby junior goalie Catharine O'Brien. O'Brien accumulated a .658 save percentage in three games last week, leading the Mules (9-1, 4-1 NESCAC) to wins in all three.
Colby's biggest win of last week came on Saturday at Tufts in the form of a 13-12 result, handing the Jumbos their first loss of the season. Although the Mules generated plenty of offense, including two goals and four assists from Allie Libby, it was O'Brien's 18 saves that helped Colby recover from a 7-4 halftime deficit to steal the win.
In the Mules' other NESCAC triumph last week, a 21-10 result over intrastate rival Bates last Wednesday, O'Brien was even more impressive. The junior goalie posted 22 saves in the win, asserting her control with the game tied at seven late in the first half, and allowing Colby to mount a 14-3 run to end the game.
O'Brien provided another eight saves in Colby's final game of the week, a 21-3 non-conference drubbing of Keene State, giving her a total of 48 saves and only 25 goals against on the week. On Tuesday, in her first game after receiving conference Player of the Week honors, O'Brien made another 10 saves as Colby downed Plymouth State, 24-15, in the Mules' ninth consecutive victory.
As of Monday, O'Brien led the NESCAC in two of the three major statistical categories for goaltenders. Her .579 save percentage is best in the conference by a comfortable margin, and her 12.67 saves per game leads all NESCAC goalies by over one save per game. O'Brien's 9.50 goals allowed per game is only eighth-best in the league, understandable due to the high quantity of shots she faces.
On the offensive side, Williams senior Rachel Barr also earned league Co-Player of the Week honors. The Ephs (6-2, 2-2 NESCAC) only had two games last week, but that was enough for Barr to find the back of the net an amazing 14 times.
Last Wednesday against Springfield, Barr opened the week with a flourish, netting nine goals and adding an assist for a 10-point game in Williams' 20-16 win over the Pride. Barr ended the week helping Williams pick up an always-crucial conference victory outscoring Trinity's entire team in her team's 14-2 win over the Bantams on Saturday.
Barr's extraordinary week elevated her to, or at least near, the top of the conference in two major statistical categories. Her 4.50 goals per game is best in the NESCAC by almost an entire goal, and her 4.62 points per game is second-best in the conference, an amazing feat considering she has only one assist all season long with 35 of her 36 points coming off goals. Junior Kaylan Tildsley (25 goals, 12 assists, 37 points), also of Williams, leads the conference in points per game with 5.29.
It is not just individuals racking up accolades this spring, as NESCAC women's lacrosse teams have once again made their mark nationally, with six of the league's teams ranked among the nation's top 11. Middlebury leads the way at No. 2, and ranked seventh through 11th, respectively, are Colby, Amherst, Bowdoin, Williams, and Tufts.
NESCAC News and Notes: Women's lacrosse is not the only spring sport where NESCAC schools have a notable presence in the rankings. In men's lacrosse, five NESCAC teams are in the top 20. Bates and Wesleyan rank eighth and ninth, while Middlebury, Tufts, and Bowdoin are found further down at 12th, 17th, and 19th, respectively.
On the tennis court, the NESCAC has garnered plenty of recognition as well. In women's tennis, Amherst leads six nationally-ranked NESCAC schools at number three. Williams and Middlebury follow at eighth and ninth, respectively, while Connecticut College and Bowdoin are further down at 22nd and 23rd. Tufts ranks 27th nationally.
In men's tennis, four NESCAC teams are ranked in the top 25. Middlebury and Williams are the best of the league at fourth and sixth in the nation, respectively. Trinity is ranked 10th in the nation, and Amherst rounds out the quartet at 21st nationally.
In the most recent baseball poll, Tufts found itself ranked ninth in the nation, although that could fall after the Jumbos dropped three games to Bowdoin last weekend.
