McPherson Named GNAC Goalkeeper of Week
WINTHROP, Mass. – After holding opponents to an average of four goals per match over the past week, sophomore Brittany McPherson (Lynn, Mass.) has been named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Women's Lacrosse Goalkeeper of the Week, announced Monday by the league office.
McPherson led Regis to a 3-0 week, including a 2-0 record in conference matches. Last Tuesday against Fitchburg State, she made eight saves while facing 13 shots on goal for a .615 save percentage. McPherson allowed just one goal in the first half and forced the Falcons to miss six of their seven free position shots in the contest.
The next day, the Pride traveled to Connecticut to face St. Joseph, and McPherson held the Blue Jays to just two goals while making 10 saves for an .833 save percentage, her highest career single-match percentage when playing a full contest. She made six saves in the first half and four saves after halftime, holding St. Joseph scoreless until there was just 7:31 remaining in the second half.
Saturday in a crucial contest against Simmons, McPherson once again led the way, collecting a season-high 11 saves in the Pride's 9-5 victory over the Sharks. It was her fifth career match with at least 10 saves as she finished with a .688 save percentage. McPherson made seven saves in the second half to prevent Simmons from putting together a rally, and she forced the Sharks to miss seven of nine free position shots during the afternoon.
In all four Regis victories so far this season, McPherson has allowed one or zero goals in the first half. McPherson is currently sixth in the country in save percentage at .600 and 13th in Division III in goals against average at 6.40. This is McPherson's first career GNAC weekly award and the first for the Pride women's lacrosse team since Maresa Malcolm was named Goalkeeper of the Week on April 16, 2018.
Regis (4-1, 3-0 GNAC) is in action later Monday, traveling to face UMass Dartmouth starting at 7 p.m. in a match rescheduled from its original date of Feb. 26. In another key conference contest, the Pride host Lasell Wednesday, March 27, beginning at 6 p.m.