March 19, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - After helping lead the No. 10/13 Nittany Lion women's lacrosse team to pair of victories last week, junior midfielder Kelly Lechner (Silver Spring, Md.) and freshman midfielder Abby Smucker (Bel Air, Md.) hauled in a pair of American Lacrosse Conference weekly honors.
A Silver Spring, Md., native, Lechner, who led the Nittany Lions with seven goals in a pair of victories against Rutgers and Vanderbilt, earned ALC Offensive Player of the Week recognition for the second time in her career. In Penn State's matchup against the Scarlet Knights, the junior tied her career high with five goals while collecting two draw controls. Against Vanderbilt, the captain netted two goals and collected four draw controls as the Nittany Lions opened their ALC campaign at 1-0.
In 2014, Lechner, who was named to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List in February, leads Penn State in goals (18) and game-winning goals (3) and ranks second in draw controls (20) and fourth in points (18).
Smucker earned ALC Rookie of the Week honors for the second straight week after recording five points (4g, 1a) and a pair of ground balls, draw controls and caused turnovers. The Bel Air, Md., native, who scored twice against both Rutgers and Vanderbilt March 12 and 15, respectively, added two draw controls against the Scarlet Knights, while notching two ground balls, two caused turnovers and an assist against Vanderbilt.
The midfielder ranks fourth on the team in goals (14) and draw controls (10), while adding nine ground balls and four caused turnovers.
The Nittany Lions (5-3, 1-0 ALC) will return to action Sunday, March 23 when they face Michigan in the teams' first meeting. Opening draw at the Penn State Lacrosse Field is set at 1 p.m.