Lacrosse: O'Connell Rookie of the Week

WOODLAND, Calif. - The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) tabbed Oregon freshman Carly O'Connell as its Rookie of the Week on Monday night (March 4).

The announcement came just moments after Oregon's thrilling 14-13 triple-overtime win over Vermont at Papé Field.

O'Connell earned the award thanks to her effort against High Point on Saturday (March 2). Against the Panthers, O'Connell scored the game-winning goal that broke a 6-6 tie with 4.8 seconds to play. The goal marked her second of the day. In addition, O'Connell registered two ground balls, a draw control and three caused turnovers against High Point.

For an encore performance, O'Connell scored a goal with eight seconds left to tie the Vermont game at 13 and send the match into sudden-victory. She finished the evening with two goals, a career-high five draw controls and a ground ball.

This year, O'Connell ranks fourth on the Ducks in total points (8), is tied for fourth in goals scored (6) and her eight ground balls leads the team.

"She has an absolute nose for the ball," Oregon head coach Jen Larsen Beck said of O'Connell following the Vermont game. "She's super competitive, she is definitely a born-winner and [tonight was] making sure she is getting her teammates more time so that Nikki [Puszcz] could finish the game off with a goal. She's definitely got that grit inside her."

Only O'Connell's performance against High Point was accounted for in this week's MPSF freshman honor, which recognized games around the conference from Feb. 25 through March 3. Other newcomers nominated for the award were Stanford's Mackenzie Tesei and USC's Caroline de Lyra.

The March 4 MPSF Rookie of the Week Award is the first career accolade received by the Southborough, Mass., native.