Lasell Student-Athletes receive GNAC Weekly Honors

NEWTON, Mass. – Three student-athletes on the Lasell College field hockey and women's volleyball teams have been recognized with top weekly honors by the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) for their performances in Laser games last week.

Junior Sam Taylor (Hanover, Mass./Hanover) and freshman Sofia Rodriguez (Peabody, Mass./Veterans Memorial) were named GNAC Field Hockey Player and Goalkeeper of the Week, respectively, and freshman Kiana Perez (Juncos, Puerto Rico/Notre Dame) was selected GNAC Women's Volleyball Rookie of the Week. The announcements were made Monday by the GNAC Office.

A junior forward, Taylor collected four goals and five assists in three games last week as Lasell posted a 2-1 record (1-0 GNAC). She tallied a hat trick with one assist in Tuesday's 6-2 win over New England College; she recorded one assist in Thursday's 5-3 loss to Salve Regina University; and she added a goal and a career-high three assists in Saturday's 10-2 GNAC triumph over Johnson & Wales University.

Taylor upped her season totals to five goals, nine assists and 19 points, tops on the team in assists and second in points. She also leads the GNAC in assists and is tied for third in points.

A freshman keeper, Rodriguez posted a 2.50 goals against average with 18 saves and a .783 save percentage in three games last week, including one start. She made four saves on five shots in the second half of Tuesday's win over New England College, added eight saves on 10 shots in the second half of Thursday's setback to Salve Regina, and earned the victory in a complete-game effort Saturday with six saves in eight shots in the 10-2 decision over Johnson & Wales.

Rodriquez now has a 1-1 season record with a 3.27 goals against average and a .750 save percentage, making 27 saves in 192 minutes of action. She has started two of her four appearances.

The Laser field hockey team, 5-4 overall and tied for first in the GNAC at 3-0, plays a pair of non-conference home games this week at Grellier Field, Tuesday vs. WPI at 4:00 and Thursday against UMass Dartmouth at 3:30 p.m.

A freshman outside hitter, Perez received the GNAC Rookie of the Week honor for the second week in a row. She averaged 5.50 kills, 3.30 digs and 0.58 service aces per set with a .221 attack percentage in a 2-2 week for the Lasers. She smashed a season-high 31 kills with 16 digs in a 3-1 victory Tuesday at Newbury College, and tallied 23 kills and a season-high 17 digs Saturday in a 3-1 GNAC loss at Colby-Sawyer College, her third double-double of the season.

Perez is leading the team this season with 3.37 kills per set and a .181 attack percentage, ranks second with 21 service aces, and ranks third with 2.67 digs per set. She also leads the GNAC in kills per set and total kills with 172.

The Lasers, 4-12 overall and 2-2 in the GNAC, play a pair of conference road matches this week, Wednesday at Regis College at 6:00 p.m. and Saturday at the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) at 12 noon.

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