WINCHESTER, Mass. – Simmons College field hockey player Jenna Gagnon (Waterville, Maine) was named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Field Hockey Player of the Week, it was announced today by the league.
The honor marks the fifth time this season that a Simmons player has been named the conference's top weekly player. Gagnon was previously chosen for the week of October 13-19, while first year forward Julie Saltamartini (East Hampstead, N.H.) garnered the award for the weeks of September 1-7 and September 29 to October 5 and senior forward Kelly Williamson (Natick, Mass.) earned the accolade for the week of September 8-14.
Gagnon tallied five points on two goals and an assist in two matches for the Sharks. The sophomore scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner in a 5-2 Sharks' victory over Johnson & Wales University in the GNAC Tournament Semifinals on November 5 and capped the week with an assist in Simmons' 3-1 win over Anna Maria College to win its first-ever conference crown on November 8. Gagnon was named the GNAC Tournament Most Valuable Player for her efforts.
Despite missing the first seven games of the season, due to injury, the forward has been one of the top offensive players in the league, especially over the last month of the season. A graduate of Waterville Senior High School, Gagnon has racked up all 18 of her points on seven goals and four assists in her last seven contests and stands fourth on the team in points and third in goals. The second-year player put together a string of four straight matches with at least one point from October 7-18, including three with three or more. She tallied a season-high five points with a pair of goals and an assist in a 6-0 victory over Bay Path College on October 15.
The Maine native has played in 31 career games, while making 24 starts. She has 38 points on 14 goals and 10 assists for her career at Simmons. Gagnon burst onto the collegiate scene last season as a first year, earning two conference Rookie of the Week honors and was selected the North Atlantic Conference Rookie of the Year as well.
The Sharks are currently 13-5 on the season and won the GNAC Tournament Championship to earn its first-ever NCAA Tournament berth. Simmons will take on University of New England on Wednesday, November 12 at 6:00 p.m. in Biddeford, Maine.