WINTHROP, Mass. – Simmons College's Julie Saltamartini (East Hampstead, N.H.) has been named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Field Hockey Player of the Week for the week of September 25 to October 1, it was announced today by the league. Saltamartini earns the award for a conference-record sixth time for her career.
The senior tallied seven points on three goals and an assist in two matches for the week. The forward scored the Sharks' lone goal in a 4-1 loss at Smith College on September 26 and capped the week with two goals, including her 17th career game-winner, and added an assist in a 4-1 victory over visiting Anna Maria College on September 30.
For the season, the Pinkerton Academy product has started nine matches and is tied for the team lead with nine goals and stands second with 20 points, including two assists. Saltamartini has registered four game-winning scores on the year as well. The four-year standout currently leads the GNAC in league-only matches with 16 points and seven goals in four conference contests. Saltamartini has been one of Simmons' most consistent scorers with at least one point in six of nine matches and currently owns a three-match scoring streak, where she has racked up 13 points from September 23-30.
Saltamartini has started 61 of 64 matches during her career, while totaling 136 points to sit just two shy of the school record. She became the program's career goal-scoring leader with three against Regis (Mass.) on September 23 to supplant Tanya Rego (2002-05) and now has 61 during her tenure with the Sharks. Her multiple-goal effort on Saturday vs. Anna Maria marked the 19th multi-scoring outing of her career. Saltamartini currently ranks ninth in the nation in career goals for active players and has scored more goals (24) in GNAC matches than any player in league history. She has been named GNAC Offensive Player of the Year in each of the previous two seasons after being tabbed the Conference Rookie of the Year as a first year. In addition, Saltamartini has earned National Field Hockey Coaches Association New England East Region First Team honors twice.
The Sharks have won six of their last seven games and own a 7-3 overall record, including a perfect 4-0 mark in league play. They return to action on Thursday, October 4 when they travel to New London, N.H. to take on Colby-Sawyer College in a 3:30 p.m. match.