WINTHROP, Mass. – Simmons University's Lauren Whitman (Mansfield, Mass.) was named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Women's Lacrosse Rookie of the Week for the week of March 2-8, it was announced today by the league.
Whitman becomes the second Shark in as many weeks to earn the GNAC's top rookie honors for the week following last week's award given to Emily Boedeker (Portland, Maine) and marks the first year since 2016 that Simmons has had two different honorees when Missie Maiewski (2016-19) and Elena Bragg (2016-19) were both tabbed during that campaign.
The first-year scored four or more goals in both games of a 2-0 week to tally 11 goals to go with five ground balls, five draw controls and three caused turnovers for the Sharks. The attacker scored four goals and added two draw controls in the team's 13-10 victory over University of Massachusetts Dartmouth on March 2. She capped the week by tying the school's rookie record for goals in a game with seven, in addition to picking up five ground balls, winning three draw controls and causing three turnovers to lead Simmons over Clark University, 12-6, on March 6.
For the season, the Physical Therapy major has started all three games she's played in and leads the Sharks with 13 goals, while ranking third among conference leaders. Whitman is one of just two players in the GNAC to rank among the top 13 in goals (third with 13), points (sixth with 14), draw controls (10th with nine) and caused turnovers (13th with five). In addition, the Mansfield High School product is the only player on the team to register multiple goals in all three matches this season.
The Sharks are currently off to their best start in school history at 3-0 and will be in action again on Monday, March 9 when they take on Nazareth College at 4:30 p.m. in Englewood, Fla.