2023 NAIA Women's Lacrosse Players of the Week

Apr 18, 2023

Players of the week are evaluated on their performance during the week prior to the announcement. Each player is selected out of a pool of conference, group and Continental Athletic Conference (Independents) award winners.

Week 9 (April 18, 2023)

Offensive Player of the Week: Cecily Anderson, Ottawa (Kan.)

Cecily Anderson of Ottawa University had an outstanding week, scoring 12 goals and dishing out nine assists in two games against Midland and Saint Mary. Anderson dropped five goals and dished out five assists against the Warriors on Monday, then followed with 7 goals and four assists against the Spires on Friday. With 11 points against USM, Anderson became the OU All-Time leader in career points.

Nominees: Maddie Wiltrout, St. Ambrose (Iowa); Bryce Gerber, Webber International (Fla.); Joelle Rawski, Lourdes (Ohio); Aleyah Belton, Cumberlands (Ky.); Cecily Anderson, Ottawa (Kan.)

Defensive Player of the Week: Emma Rittman, Cumberlands (Ky.)

In her lone game on the week, Emma was dominant at both ends of the field scooping 11 draw controls and four ground balls. She also notched a pair of caused turnovers, while adding five goals and an assist on the offensive end for the Patriots. She leads the NAIA with 130 draw controls and it was the seventh time she notched double-digit draws in a game.

Nominees: Emma Rittman, Cumberlands (Ky.); Lexi Santiago, Life (Ga.); Kaylen Moore, Benedictine (Kan.); Bella Burke, Lawrence Tech (Mich.)

Week 8 (April 11, 2023)

Offensive Player of the Week: Kennadie Minerich, Aquinas (Mich.)

Scored seven goals on seven shots against Concordia. Minerich collected 21 points for the week and has the fifth most points in the NAIA this season with 81 (47 goals, 34 assists).

Nominees: Kennadie Minerich, Aquinas (Mich.); Audrey Warner, St. Ambrose (Iowa); Clarke Haas, SCAD Savannah (Ga.); Bella Ricchiazzi, Cumberlands (Ky.); Mackenzie Simmons, Ottawa (Kan.)

Defensive Player of the Week: Olivia McCarrell, Cumberlands (Ky.)

Against 4th-ranked Life, Olivia made 12 saves and limited the Running Eagles to their lowest offensive output since 2019. McCarrell made five saves in the third quarter as UC held Life scoreless in the second and third quarter.

Nominees: Olivia McCarrell, Cumberlands (Ky.); Lorna Fowles, SCAD Savannah (Ga.); Bella Burke, Lawrence Tech (Mich.); Jordan Haeusser, Missouri Baptist; Kaylen Moore, Benedictine (Kan.)

Week 7 (April 4, 2023)

Offensive Player of the Week: Bella Ricchiazzi, Cumberlands (Ky.)

Against #2 Reinhardt, Bella tallied six points, including the game-winning goal in overtime to lead the Patriots to the win. Ricchiazzi netted four goals and two assists in that game to anchor UC. She followed that up with five points in the win over Truett McConnell as she converted all three of her shots into goals. Bella is the NAIA leader in assists and points.

Nominees: Paige Ecton, Saint Mary (Kan.); Bella Ricchiazzi, Cumberlands (Ky.); Courtney Frankfurth, Benedictine (Kan.); Bella Burke, Lawrence Tech (Mich.); Clarke Haas, SCAD Savannah (Ga.)

Defensive Player of the Week: Leanne Windon, Life (Ga.)

Windon played a huge roll in a Running Eagles' defense that limited No. 9 Ave Maria to only three goals, collecting game highs in both caused turnovers, 6, and ground balls, 8.

Nominees: Leanne Windon, Life (Ga.); Mia Griswold, Reinhardt (Ga.); Aria Gettel, Madonna (Mich.); Kaylen Moore, Benedictine (Kan.); Ashley Santillan, Ottawa (Kan.)

Week 6 (March 28, 2023)

Offensive Player of the Week: Kaitlyn Chmelir, St. Thomas (Fla.)

Kaitlyn Chmelir was the driving force of the offense this week leading STU to two historic victories. Tying a program record for most goals in a single game with seven, Chmelir led the Bobcats to their first upset victory in program history over (RV) St. Ambrose. The freshmen went on to score eight more goals on the week with four in each contest to give STU their first SUN victory. Chmelir is 9th in the NAIA for goals, 3rd best in the SUN and 6th in free position shot accuracy good for 2nd best in the conference.

Nominees: Jillian Mello, Reinhardt (Ga.); Madilynn Edwards, Midland (Neb.); Melanie Sanchez, Culver-Stockton (Mo.); Kaitlyn Chmelir, St. Thomas (Fla.); Kennadie Minerich, Aquinas (Mich.)

Defensive Player of the Week: Emma Tirrman, Cumberlands (Ky.)

Emma continues to be dominant on the draw winning 21 draw controls on the week, including 11 against St. Andrews. She was a key part of the Patriots defense that limited the Knights to just three shots in the game. Emma scooped 10 draw controls against Montreat and helped UC set a program record for draw control wins as they finished the game with 32. She added six points, three caused turnovers and 3 gb on the week. Emma leads the NAIA with 91 draw controls.

Nominees: Talia Myers, Keiser (Fla.); Jordan Haeusser, Missouri Baptist; Samantha Swope, Bethel (Ind.); Emma Rittman, Cumberlands (Ky.); Madison Reed, William Penn (Iowa)

Week 5 (March 21, 2023)

Offensive Player of the Week: Kennadie Minerich, Aquinas (Mich.)

Racked up 27 points with 15 goals on 24 shots (19 on target) and 12 assists. Also won eight ground balls and three draw controls, as the Saints went 3-0 on the week with wins over (RV) Georgetown and #9 Indiana Tech.

Nominees: Anna-Marie Gazzo, Reinhardt (Ga.); Maria Arvizu, Life (Ga.); Chayleb Deves, Missouri Baptist; Bailee Royal, William Penn (Iowa); Kennadie Minerich, Aquinas (Mich.)

Defensive Player of the Week: Leanne Windon, Life (Ga.)

Windon played a huge role in wins over No. 6 Missouri Baptist and (RV) Webber International, constantly disrupting both visiting team's attack.

Nominees: Mia Griswold, Reinhardt (Ga.); Katelynn Gray, Marian (Ind.); Leanne Windon, Life (Ga.)

Week 4 (March 14, 2023)

Offensive Player of the Week: Shelby O'Neil, Reinhardt (Ga.)

10 goals and 10 assists in three games this week. She also had 10 ground balls, 12 draw controls and created 5 turnovers.

Nominees: Amelia McCourt, Lourdes (Ohio); Chayleb Deves, Missouri Baptist; Bryce Gerber, Webber International (Fla.); Kaylen Moore, Benedictine (Kan.); Shelby O'Neil, Reinhardt (Ga.)

Defensive Player of the Week: Jordan Haeusser, Missouri Baptist

Scored four goals all in the third quarter alone against Indiana Tech and set a single-game high for caused turnovers with 11 against Marian Univ.

Nominees: Maggie Samson, St. Ambrose (Iowa); Angela Sciacchitano, Reinhardt (Ga.); Talia Myers, Keiser (Fla.); Jordan Haeusser, Missouri Baptist; Aria Gettel, Madonna (Mich.)

Week 3 (March 7, 2023)

Offensive Player of the Week: Chayleb Deves, Missouri Baptist

Equaled a career high in goals with six on seven shots in MBU's upset of No. 1 Benedictine College

Nominees: Chayleb Deves, Missouri Baptist; Maria Arvizu, Life (Ga.); Courtney Frankfurth, Benedictine (Kan.); Kate Gauntlett, Montreat (N.C.); Ruby Mason, Marian (Ind.)

Defensive Player of the Week: Emma Rittman, Cumberlands (Ky.)

Emma led the way for UC with 29 draw controls, 9 caused turnovers, and 12 gb as the Patriots went 3-0 on the week. She notched four caused turnovers, 1 dc, and 6 gb's in UC's conference opener before adding 11 dc, 4 gb's and four caused turnovers against Madonna. Rittman also chipped in 10 points as she has made a presence all over the field. Rittman leads the NAIA in CT's, DC's and GB's so far this season.

Nominees: Emma Rittman, Cumberlands (Ky.); Madeline Dumke, Marian (Ind.); Talia Myers, Keiser (Fla.); Madison Reed, William Penn (Iowa); Amelia Shaw, Missouri Baptist

Week 2 (February 28, 2023)

Offensive Player of the Week: Bella Ricchiazzi, Cumberlands (Ky.)

Facing #10 SHU, Ricchiazzi was dominant with 6 goals and 3 assists. She notched 7 points in the first half, including the first two goals of the game. The senior also scooped four ground balls in the game, while her five caused turnovers were a career-high.

Nominees: Bella Ricchiazzi, Cumberlands (Ky.); Abigail Seiler, Ave Maria (Fla.); Paige Bolton, Midland (Neb.); Faith Donally, Indiana Tech; Courtney Frankfurth, Benedictine (Kan.)

Defensive Player of the Week: Orianna Eldridge, Ave Maria (Fla.)

Eldridge's efforts were nothing short of heroic on Sunday, as she led the Gyrenes to a stunning upset of No. 10 Siena Heights despite playing the entire match a player down. Despite playing down for all 60 minutes, Eldridge led a defensive effort that held Siena Heights to just seven goals. The junior scooped up five ground balls, caused four turnovers, and contributed on the offensive end with three goals scored. She also helped keep AMU in possession of the ball with four draw controls.

Nominees: Kaylen Moore, Benedictine (Kan.); Halli Reinhard, Indiana Tech; Orianna Eldridge, Ave Maria (Fla.); Lydia Cornett, Missouri Baptist; Emma Rittman, Cumberlands (Ky.)

Week 1 (February 21, 2023)

Offensive Player of the Week: Alaina Smythe, Lawrence Tech (Mich.)