MAC Announces Field Hockey Athletes of the Week
Defensive Player of the Week
Macy Lotze, Ohio
Goal Keeper, Freshman, Louisville, Ky. / Eastern
Freshman keeper Macy Lotze helped the Bobcats to a series split with Longwood. In two games she played 45 minutes, allowing no goals while making nine saves. Lotze was also the winning keeper on Monday (April 12) at Longwood - her first career win. On April 11 at Longwood, Lotze played 15 minutes and did not allow a goal while ,making three saves. Then on Monday, Lotze entered the game in the third quarter, playing 30 minutes and did not allow a goal while making six saves in the 3-1 win.
Offensive Player of the Week
Meghan Smart, App State
Midfield/Forward, Senior, Haddonfield, N.J. (Haddonfield Memorial)
Sparked by a hat trick-effort from senior Meghan Smart, App State cruised past Bellarmine 7-2 on Saturday. On Sunday, Smart added two more to give her an impressive five-goal outing this weekend against the Knights. Smart, who is now the sole leader in the MAC in goals scored this season, increased her goal tally to 11, a career high. She has also racked up a total of 26 points and is averaging .92 goals per game this season to lead the offensive attack for the 7-5 Mountaineers. Seven goals as a team, three from Smart, on Saturday marked a team season high and the most goals scored in a single-game win since 1982 in which App State defeated Wake Forest 8-1.
Other Nominees
Veerle Van Heertum, App State
Midfield, Senior, Valkenswaard, Netherlands (SG Weredi)
Veerle Van Heertum held the App State defensive core, stopped most attacks directly in the midfield and also generated attack through her defense. Her defense-to-offense mentality produced three goals of her own contributing to the weekend sweep of Bellarmine. The Mountaineers captured their fourth straight win Sunday, and the sweep of Bellarmine marked back-to-back series sweeps for App State. Defensively and led by Van Heertum, the Black and Gold held the Knights to just a total of five shots throughout the series.
Azure Fernsler , Kent State
Goalkeeper, Senior, Sinking Spring, Pa. (Wilson)
Azure Fernsler shutout Ball State for 120 minutes as Kent State earned a series sweep of the Cardinals at Murphy-Mellis Field. Fernsler made five saves over the two contests and is tied for the conference lead with three shutouts in MAC play.
Helena Cambra Soler, Kent State
Midfielder, Junior, Barcelona, Spain (Institució Cultural del CIC)
Helena Cambra Soler played a role in two of Kent State’s three goals during a sweep of Ball State last week. With less than four minutes remaining in the third period on Saturday, Cambra Soler positioned herself in front of the goal to receive a pass and sent the ball past the goalkeeper and into the bottom left corner to break a scoreless tie. She assisted on the Golden Flashes’ second goal of the game, receiving the initial pass off a penalty corner and deceiving the defense with a pass to her younger sister, Maria, for the open shot instead of setting it for her battery mate. Cambra Soler’s play in the midfield helped Kent State to advantages of 25-12 in shots and 21-3 on penalty corners while posting a pair of shutouts.
