Sports Briefs - 4/15

Lacrosse tri-captain Dana Heritage named NESCAC Player of Week

Women’s lacrosse tri-captain Dana Heritage ’10 was named NESCAC Player of the Week on Monday for her stellar performance in the Panthers’ decisive win over Bowdoin last Saturday.

At the end of the weekend, the Connecticut native led the team in total points with 28 overall, having added four goals and five assists to that tally in Middlebury’s 18-7 rout of the Polar Bears last weekend.

The senior also won three draw controls, helping to maintain the Panthers’ control of the ball throughout the contest.

After Tuesday’s play, Heritage now leads the team with a total of 29 points –– 22 goals and seven assists –– and is counted on to lead the offense with her leadership on and off the field. She has exhibited great poise throughout the season, helping the team to a 5-4 record thus far.

She has played a part in spurring offensive prouctivity, leading the team in shots attempted with 41, and amassing an impressive .537 shot percentage.

The four-year starter has consistently ranked among the top five goal scorers throughout her career and will leave quite a mark on Middlebury women’s lacrosse when she graduates this spring.

Conference recognition was well-deserved for this talented senior, not only for her play last weekend, or even over the course of this season, but also for her play the past three seasons as an offensive powerhouse and contributor to team success throughout her four years here.

Geena Constantin ’11 honored as NESCAC Pitcher of the Week

Heading into the season, the softball team’s pitching prospects were all but clear, with injury and uncertainty plaguing the squad. However, strong pitching has clearly emerged in the arm of Geena Constantin ’11, who earned NESCAC honors for her outstanding performance against the Hamilton Continentals last weekend.

The NESCAC pitcher of the week pitched for a total of 10 scoreless innings, which included a seven-inning perfect game on Saturday that ended in a 6-0 Panther victory.

After pitching three scoreless innings in game two of the day, Constantin was relieved by Ali McAnaney ’11. In her 10 innings of play, Constantin gave up only two hits, no runs and added four strikeouts to her resume.

The standout pitcher has started 15 of 18 games for the Panthers thus far this season. tallying a total of 10 runs in 54 at bats.

Thanks in large part to the Panthers’ strength at the mound, the team is now 5-1 in NESCAC play, a great start to what was an uncertain beginning.

With a record that now stands at 5-3, an impressive 1.34 ERA and an average of one strikeout per inning, Constantin has proved herself a force to be reckoned with. The golden glove leading the Panthers’ charge to a 14-6 overall record thus far, the powerful pitcher earned a well-deserved NESCAC shout out for her efforts.