April 13, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
A pair of Nittany Lion women's lacrosse student-athletes were named Big Ten players of the week on Monday afternoon as Maggie McCormick (Eldersburg, Md.) and Emi Smith (Denver, Colo.) picked up offensive and defensive honors, respectively.
Both McCormick and Smith earned their second Big Ten weekly awards of the season by anchoring their team's 11-5 victory over Michigan this past Thursday. McCormick registered a seven-point night on two goals and five assists, while Smith saved six shots.
En route to PSU's 5-3 halftime lead, McCormick played a hand in every goal, scoring once and assisting the four others. McCormick also scooped two ground balls and a caused turnover. Her most memorable play of the night was in the second half as she forced the Michigan goalkeeper to turn the ball over, McCormick picked it up and flung it from 20 yards out to cap a decisive 6-0 run.
McCormick leads the team in assists (29) and points (49), which ranks second and third in the Big Ten, respectively.
On the other end of the field, Smith saved three shots in each half to keep the Wolverines at bay and picked up a ground ball in the process. Smith kept the Wolverines six goals below their season average and posted her seventh game of allowing eight or fewer goals and her fourth game of five or fewer goals allowed.
Smith ranks second in the Big Ten with an 8.67 GAA and .470 save percentage.
The first-place Nittany Lions (10-3, 3-0 Big Ten) sit atop the Big Ten standings with Maryland ahead of tomorrow's non-conference game at Cornell (5 p.m.).