Mendham, N.J., sophomore is second-straight Skyhawk to earn weekly award
EASTON, Mass. (April 22, 2013) – Stonehill College junior midfielder Kelsey Shannahan (Mendham, N.J./Morris Catholic) has been named the Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Week for women's lacrosse by the league office today.
Shannahan, who earns the weekly award for the first time in her career, is the second-straight Stonehill student-athlete to earn the honors after senior Heather Sullivan (Andover, Mass./Andover) collected the accolades last week. Shannahan surpassed career highs in both games in a big 2-0 week for the Skyhawks as she totaled nine goals, including a gamewinner, and five assists for 14 points to go with three ground balls, a draw control and caused turnover.
Shannahan opened the week with a then career-best six points on a career-high five goals and an assist in Wednesday's 18-10 win at Merrimack College, adding three ground balls, a caused turnover and draw control. She followed that up by playing a role in eight of Stonehill's 16 goals in Saturday's huge 16-12 decision over 10th-ranked Dowling College with four goals and a career-high four assists for a career-best eight points.
Shannahan, who missed the entire 2012 season because of a knee injury, has picked up right where she left off after a promising freshman season. She has started all 16 games this season and ranks third on the team with 48 points (10th NE-10) and 32 goals (13th) to go with 13 assists (15th). Shannahan has also contributed 19 ground balls, five draw controls and seven caused turnovers.
Shannahan earned All-Rookie team honors from both womenslacrosse.com and the Northeast-10 Conference as a freshman. She has started all 35 games played at Stonehill and totaled 86 points with 60 goals and 26 assists, adding 78 ground balls, 39 draw controls and 49 caused turnovers. Shannahan has also been named to the Northeast-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll each of the last three semesters and the Athletic Director's Honor Roll this past fall semester.
Stonehill (11-5, 9-2 NE-10), ranked 11th in last week's Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II poll and fifth in the NCAA Division II East Regional rankings, figures to move up in both rankings this week and will close out the regular season on Tuesday night at Saint Anselm College at 7 p.m.
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