Penn State, Rutgers, and Northwestern Score Weekly Women’s Lacrosse Honors

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference has announced this week’s Women’s Lacrosse Weekly Awards for the week of April 16-22.

 Offensive Player of the Week

Gretchen Gilmore, Penn State
Sr. – A – Glen Ridge, N.J. – Glen Ridge – Major: Advertising and Public Relations

• Posted six points to lead No. 16 Penn State to a 16-13 win over then-No. 11 Johns Hopkins
• Paired her sixth hat trick of the season with a season-high three assists in the win
• Netted two goals in a first half spurt that helped the Nittany Lions turn a 5-2 deficit into an 8-7 halftime lead
• Scores her first career Offensive Player of the Week honor
• Last Penn State Offensive Player of the Week: Kristin O’Neill (March 26, 2024)

 

Midfielder of the Week
Cassidy Spilis, Rutgers
Grad. – M – Tabernacle, N.J. – Seneca – Major: Master’s in Education

• Posted 10 points, 10 draw controls, seven ground balls, and seven caused turnovers, as Rutgers split a pair of games
• Recorded five goals, six draw controls, and four ground balls in the Scarlet Knights’ 13-11 win at Ohio State
• Added four goals, five caused turnovers, four draw controls, and three ground balls in an 11-10 loss at Vermont
• Nabs her ninth career Midfielder of the Week award and sixth of the season
• Last Rutgers Midfielder of the Week: Cassidy Spilis (April 9, 2024)

 

Defensive Player of the Week 
Sammy White, Northwestern
Jr. – D – Timonium, Md. – Dulaney – Major: Communication Studies

• Paired three ground balls, two draw controls and a caused turnover, as No. 1 Northwestern won the Big Ten regular season championship with a 13-12 win at then-No. 4 Michigan
• Both draw controls came with the Wildcats trailing
• Secured a ground ball with 59 second to play, allowing Northwestern to seal the victory
• Earns her third career Defensive Player of the Week accolade
• Last Northwestern Defensive Player of the Week: Sammy White (April 25, 2023)

 

Freshman of the Week 
Kelly MacKinney, Penn State
A – Martinsville, N.J. – Bridgewater Raritan – Major: Division of Undergraduate Studies

• Totaled five points on two goals and three assists to lead Penn State to a 16-13 win over then-No. 11 Johns Hopkins
• Marked season-high totals in all three offensive categories
• Added two ground balls a caused turnover in the win
• Notches her first Freshman of the Week award
• Last Penn State Freshman of the Week: Sydney Manning (April 16, 2024)

 

2024 Big Ten Women’s Lacrosse Players of the Week
Feb. 13
O: Erin Coykendall, NU
M: Cassidy Spilis, RUT
D: Jordan Carr, JHU
F: Kampbell Stone, OSU
Feb. 20
O: Hannah Leubecker, MD
M: Cassidy Spilis, RUT
D: Erin O’Grady, MICH
F: Kate Tyack, OSU
Feb. 27
O: Izzy Scane, NU
M: Cassidy Spilis, RUT
D: Erin O’Grady, MICH
F: Payton Tini, RUT
March 5
O: Izzy Scane, NU
M: Cassidy Spilis, RUT
D: Jordan Carr, JHU
F: Payton Tini, RUT
March 12
O: Libby May, MD
M: Lily Montemarano, MICH
D: Emily Sterling, MD
F: Madison Smith, NU
March 19
O: Kaylee Dyer, MICH
M: Kristin O’Neill, PSU
D: Erin O’Grady, MICH
F: Madison Smith, NU
March 26
O: Kristin O’Neill, PSU
M: Samantha Smith, NU
D: Meghan Ball, MD
F: Sydney Manning, PSU
April 2
O/F: Kate Tyack, OSU
M: Jennifer Barry, JHU
D: Regan Alexander, OSU
April 9
O: Madison Taylor, NU
M: Cassidy Spilis, RUT
D: Jordan Carr, JHU
F: Madison Smith, NU
April 16
O: Erin Coykendall, NU
M: Kristin O’Neill, PSU
D/F: Sydney Manning, PSU
April 23
O: Gretchen Gilmore, PSU
M: Cassidy Spilis, RUT
D: Sammy White, NU

F: Kelly MacKinney, PSU