IRVING, Texas – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of its weekly women’s lacrosse honors for the week-ending March 5.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE ATTACK PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tai Jankowski • Sr. • James Madison • Bridgewater, N.J.
Jankowski was James Madison’s leading scorer last with with eight points (5g, 3a) in a 2-0 week as the Dukes won their fourth and fifth consecutive games. She led all scorers with four goals and two assists in a 16-7 win against Ohio State, while she added a goal and an assist in an 8-7 win against No. 5 Maryland. Jankowski is James Madison’s second-leading scorer with 17 goals and seven assists in 2023.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE MIDFIELDER OF THE WEEK
Caroline Kimel • M • Sr. • East Carolina • Durham, N.C.
Kimel had five goals and seven assists in a 2-0 week for East Carolina to help the Pirates to their first 6-1 start in program history. Kimel had three goals and three assists with three ground balls in an 18-5 win against Furman, while she added two goals and four assists in a 15-4 victory against Wofford. Kimel leads The American with 17 assists, while she ranks third in the conference with 21 goals in 2023.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Mairead Durkin • Sr. • James Madison • Stony Point, N.Y.
Durkin led a close defense that limited No. 5 Maryland and Ohio State to a combined 14 goals as James Madison extended its winning streak to five games. Durkin and the Dukes held Maryland to a season-low seven goals as no Terrapin player had more than two goals. She helped to hold Ohio State to seven goals, and only one fourth-quarter score. Durkin had a draw control and two caused turnovers against Maryland and added two caused turnovers against the Buckeyes. She became the sixth player in program history with 100 caused turnovers.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE GOALKEEPER OF THE WEEK
Kat Buchanan • Sr. • James Madison • Milton, Mass.
Buchanan helped James Madison to a pair of wins last week as she registered a .552 save percentage and a 6.83 goals-against average. She made a career-high 10 saves, including four in the fourth quarter, in an 8-7 win against No. 5 Maryland, while she mad six stops and allowed six goals in a 16-7 win against Ohio State. Buchanan helped limit the Buckeyes to 0-for-9 on free position shots.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Camryn Callaghan • A • Fr. • Cincinnati • Upper Arlington, Ohio
Callaghan registered her sixth consecutive hat trick to begin her career as she had a team-high three goals in a 13-12 overtime loss to Ohio State. She scored two consecutive fourth-quarter goals to force overtime and added three ground balls and a caused turnover. Callaghan leads The American with 27 goals and 34 points through six games.
HONOR ROLL
Leah Bestany • A • So. • East Carolina • Bethpage, N.Y.
Scored seven goals with an assist in a 2-0 week; scored a game-high five goals in an 18-5 win at Furman.
Brynn Knight • G • So. • East Carolina • Manchester, Md.
Made 15 saves and allowed eight goals in 100 minutes to help East Carolina to a 2-0 week.
Emily Heller • M • Sr. • Florida • West Babylon, N.Y.
Scored five goals with four ground balls and four draw controls in a 2-0 week.
Emma LoPinto • A • So. • Florida • Manhasset, N.Y.
Scored six goals with two assists in a 2-0 week; had four goals and two assists in a 20-9 win against Furman.
Mackenzie Roth • A • Sr. • Temple • Schnecksville, Pa.
Scored three goals with two assists with two ground balls and two caused turnovers in a 13-10 win against Saint Joseph’s.