Ball Named National, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week
Feb 14 | Women's Lacrosse
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Preseason All-American Meghan Ball has been named the IWLCA National Defensive Player of the Week and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for Rutgers women's lacrosse. She becomes the first Scarlet Knight to earn IWLCA Defensive Player of the Week laurels in program history and the first IWLCA weekly winner since classmate Cassidy Spilis earned offensive honors in 2021. Her weekly Big Ten Defensive accolade is the fourth of her career.
Ball tallied an impressive stat line in Sunday's come-from-behind win at No. 19 Jacksonville with 10 draw controls, five ground balls and four caused turnovers. The four caused turnovers marked the 17th time Ball has caused three or more turnovers in a game during her collegiate career.
With 98 career caused turnovers, Ball needs two more to become just the second from Rutgers to hit the century mark for caused turnovers, joining program leader Kristen Checksfeld, who caused 109 from 2000-03. Ball is also 13 draw controls away from surpassing Cathy Pecha (1982-83) for the most in program history. Pecha owns the program mark with 229.
A a consensus All-American last season by the IWLCA (second), USA Lacrosse Magazine (third) and ILWomen (third), as well as a unanimous First Team All-Big Ten selection in 2022, Ball was added to the preseason Tewaaraton Award Watch List. Last spring, Ball led the team in draw controls (114), ground balls (64) and caused turnovers (54), with her 2.57 caused turnovers per game leading the Big Ten finishing sixth nationally.
Rutgers returns to action Wednesday for a 2 p.m. in-state matchup at Monmouth.
Ball tallied an impressive stat line in Sunday's come-from-behind win at No. 19 Jacksonville with 10 draw controls, five ground balls and four caused turnovers. The four caused turnovers marked the 17th time Ball has caused three or more turnovers in a game during her collegiate career.
With 98 career caused turnovers, Ball needs two more to become just the second from Rutgers to hit the century mark for caused turnovers, joining program leader Kristen Checksfeld, who caused 109 from 2000-03. Ball is also 13 draw controls away from surpassing Cathy Pecha (1982-83) for the most in program history. Pecha owns the program mark with 229.
A a consensus All-American last season by the IWLCA (second), USA Lacrosse Magazine (third) and ILWomen (third), as well as a unanimous First Team All-Big Ten selection in 2022, Ball was added to the preseason Tewaaraton Award Watch List. Last spring, Ball led the team in draw controls (114), ground balls (64) and caused turnovers (54), with her 2.57 caused turnovers per game leading the Big Ten finishing sixth nationally.
Rutgers returns to action Wednesday for a 2 p.m. in-state matchup at Monmouth.
Players Mentioned
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