March 16, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State freshman attacker Molly Fernandez (Baltimore, Md.) has been named ALC Rookie of the Week, the league office announced on Tuesday. She was recognized with the award for a conference-high third time this season for her standout performance in the Nittany Lions' 12-8 road victory over Delaware last weekend.
Fernandez added another chapter to her impressive freshman season against the Blue Hens, scoring one goal and tallying a season-high three assists. Two of the assists set up senior midfielder Theresa Bucci (Hudson, Ohio), who finished the day with a career-high five goals. Fernandez is one of three Nittany Lions to notch at least one point in every game this season and has posted multi-point efforts in five of six contests, including two hat tricks.
A starter in all six games this season, the speedy and elusive Fernandez leads the team in assists (6) and points (17) and ranks second in goals with 11. The Baltimore, Md. native and McDonogh grad, has also totaled eight ground balls, eight draw controls, and three caused turnovers thus far in 2010.
Fernandez and the 12th-ranked Nittany Lions (4-2) begin conference play this weekend when they visit Nashville, Tenn. for a 2 p.m. ET match-up with ALC rival No. 14 Vanderbilt (3-3) on Sun., March 21. Penn State owns a 6-6 record in program history versus the Commodores, losing three consecutive games. The Lions last victory in the series came on the road, a 9-8 triumph in 2006.