BUFFALO — The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference today announced Canisius junior goalkeeper Rebecca VanLaeken as the league’s Defensive Player of the Week after posting nine saves in a 15-11 victory at Oregon last Monday afternoon, while recording 14 saves in a 18-6 loss to No. 5 Syracuse Saturday.
Van Laeken recorded a team-leading eight ground balls in the win over Oregon, while also posting a caused turnover. In the loss to Syracuse Saturday, VanLaeken’s 14 saves were a game high, while she also added two ground balls.
A native of Canandaigua, N.Y, VanLaeken was named to the 2017 Preseason All-MAAC Team to begin the year. A season ago, the junior goalkeeper was named Co-MAAC Defensive Player of the year, excelling during her first full season in net.
The netminder ranked in the top 30 nationally in GAA (27, 8.26 GAA), ranking first in the MAAC in GAA, while having the second best GAA in school history. A 2016 All-MAAC First Team selection, VanLaeken ranked fourth in the MAAC in save percentage, while guiding the team to it best goals against average in school history (8.33). The vocal leader of the defense, the goalkeeper held teams to under 10 goals 10 times a season ago, while allowing five or fewer goals six times.
The Blue and Gold are now 1-2 overall, also losing to No. 9 Northwestern on Jan. 30. The Griffs return to action with a home matchup against Columbia this Saturday at 1 p.m. from the Demske Sports Complex.
from GoGriffs.com via IFTTT
