March 22, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State junior goalkeeper Dana Cahill (Towson, Md.) has been selected as the American Lacrosse Conference Defensive Player of the Week, the league office announced on Monday. She received the award for the first time in her career, along with national defensive player of the week honors from Synapse Sports, in recognition of her standout play in Nittany Lion wins over Hofstra and No. 12 Vanderbilt.
Cahill was brilliant in anchoring the Penn State defense last week, playing instrumental roles in a 16-7 victory over Hofstra and an 11-8 upset of 12th-ranked Vanderbilt. Versus the Pride, she totaled five saves and was clutch in helping the Nittany Lions hold Hofstra scoreless for a 23-plus minute stretch in the second half. In Penn State's ALC opener against the Commodores, Cahill was spectacular, tying a career-high by making 13 saves against a barrage of 33 VU shots, including eight in the first half as the Lions built a commanding 9-2 lead. Cahill also chipped in seven ground balls for the week, giving her a team-high 22, and had one caused turnover.
In her first year as a full-time starter, Cahill has solidified the goalkeeper position for Penn State and her play of late has been key in sparking the Lions' three-game winning streak. She currently ranks 14th in the nation in save percentage (.496), 16th in goals against average (8.00), and 23rd (tie) in saves (59).
The Nittany Lions will wrap up their four-game home stand on Wednesday evening when in-state foe Lafayette (1-6) visits University Park for a 7 p.m. mid-week clash in Holuba Hall. A year ago, behind a career high seven points from Mary Dean (Wyncote, Pa.) (4 goals, 3 assists), Penn State upped its all-time record versus the Leopards to 18-2 with a dominating 19-5 victory in Easton.