Ball Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week
Mar 02 | Women's Lacrosse
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Meghan Ball earned Big Ten Women's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week honors, announced today by the conference. The recognition comes after the sophomore defender combined for 12 draw controls, seven ground balls and six caused turnovers over two games to help the Scarlet Knights earn a sweep of No. 19 Ohio State last weekend in Piscataway.
Ball contributed to a defense that allowed just two goals in each of its second halves against the Buckeyes to help Rutgers women's lacrosse earn back-to-back come-from-behind victories over the weekend, as her seven draw controls in Sunday's win set a single-game career mark. The weekend sweep moved the program up 10 spots to No. 14 in this week's IWLCA Coaches Poll, its highest team ranking since 2010.
Through four games, Ball is tied for second in the Big Ten with seven caused turnovers and tied for third with 10 ground balls and 15 draw controls. The Raritan, New Jersey, native is the first RU student-athlete to earn conference defensive player of the week honors since goalkeeper Alonna Gliksman collected the honors last season.
Under second-year head coach Melissa Lehman, the Scarlet Knights have already earned their most regular season wins in Big Ten Conference play since joining the league in 2015. RU is one of six Big Ten programs ranked by the IWLCA, joining No. 3 Northwestern, No. 7 Penn State, No. 9 Maryland, No. 21 Michigan and No. 24 Ohio State.
Rutgers returns to play this weekend with games against the No. 21 Wolverines on Friday (March 5) and Sunday (March 7) in Ann Arbor.
Ball contributed to a defense that allowed just two goals in each of its second halves against the Buckeyes to help Rutgers women's lacrosse earn back-to-back come-from-behind victories over the weekend, as her seven draw controls in Sunday's win set a single-game career mark. The weekend sweep moved the program up 10 spots to No. 14 in this week's IWLCA Coaches Poll, its highest team ranking since 2010.
Through four games, Ball is tied for second in the Big Ten with seven caused turnovers and tied for third with 10 ground balls and 15 draw controls. The Raritan, New Jersey, native is the first RU student-athlete to earn conference defensive player of the week honors since goalkeeper Alonna Gliksman collected the honors last season.
Under second-year head coach Melissa Lehman, the Scarlet Knights have already earned their most regular season wins in Big Ten Conference play since joining the league in 2015. RU is one of six Big Ten programs ranked by the IWLCA, joining No. 3 Northwestern, No. 7 Penn State, No. 9 Maryland, No. 21 Michigan and No. 24 Ohio State.
Rutgers returns to play this weekend with games against the No. 21 Wolverines on Friday (March 5) and Sunday (March 7) in Ann Arbor.
Players Mentioned
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