WINCHESTER, Mass. – Simmons College field hockey player Julie Saltamartini (East Hampstead, N.H.) was named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Field Hockey Rookie of the Week, it was announced today by the league.

The award marks the sixth time this season that a Simmons player has been named the GNAC's top weekly rookie and a league-high fifth time that Saltamartini has been selected. She earned the award for the weeks of September 1-7, September 8-14, September 29 to October 5 and October 6-12 as well, while classmate Samantha Rondeau (Franklin, Mass.) was chosen for the week of October 13-19. 

In two matches, the forward tallied three goals for six points. The first year potted a goal in the Sharks' 5-2 victory over Johnson & Wales University in the GNAC Tournament Semifinals on November 5 and capped the week with a pair of scores, including the game-winner in a 3-1 win over Anna Maria College to capture the program's first-ever conference championship. 

The Pinkerton Academy product has been one of the league's top rookies and players the entire season, ranking third among league leaders with 15 goals and fourth with 34 points. A two-time GNAC Player of the Week honoree, her point total ranks as the third-most in a season in school history. She has notched at least one point in 10 matches this season and scored multiple goals on six occasions. The rookie also put together a six-match point streak from September 28 to October 15. Saltamartini has started 13 of the 17 contests she's appeared in and has tallied four game-winning goals. Simmons has posted a 9-1 record in games that she has registered at least one point. 

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.