BOSTON, Mass. – Simmons College field hockey player Jillian Mercer (Dartmouth, Mass.) was named the Eastern College Athletic Conference New England Field Hockey Offensive Player of the Week and Great Northeast Athletic Conference Field Hockey Player of the Week for the week of September 7-13, it was announced by each league.  

The honor marks the second consecutive week that a member of the Sharks has received the award. Sophomore Julie Saltamartini (East Hampstead, N.H.) was chosen last week. 

Mercer enjoyed the best week of her career, racking up four goals in three matches. The junior tallied a career-high two goals to help Simmons to a 9-0 victory over host Wheelock College on September 9. A graduate of Dartmouth High School, Mercer repeated the feat with two more goals, including the game-winner against host Rivier University to open the conference slate on September 12. 

The forward ranks second on the team with four goals and eight points, while placing third and fifth, respectively, among conference leaders. A Nursing major, Mercer has started two of the four matches she's appeared in this season. She also owns a .444 shot percentage to stand second on the team. 

Mercer has seen action in 26 career matches, while starting five of them over the past three seasons. She has 13 points on five goals and three assists for her career at Simmons. 

The Sharks were voted the favorite to win the GNAC in the Pre-Season Coaches Poll and are currently 5-1 on the season, including 1-0 in league play. Simmons returns to action on Saturday, September 19 when it heads to Newton, Mass. to take on Lasell College at 12:00 p.m. in the final contest of a seven-game road trip to begin the season.