University Park, Pa. — Penn State freshman attacker Molly Fernandez (Baltimore, Md.) has been selected as ALC Rookie of the Week, the league office announced on Tuesday. She received the award for the second consecutive week in recognition of her standout effort in the Nittany Lions' dominating 17-7 non-conference victory over Colgate last weekend.
Fernandez has made a rapid and seamless transition to the collegiate game, helping No. 13 Penn State earn a 3-1 start to the 2010 season. After notching consecutive hat tricks in a rout of Bucknell and a loss to No. 2-ranked Maryland, Fernandez totaled three points in the win over Colgate, scoring two goals (on 100 percent shooting) and tallying one assist. She also topped PSU in caused turnovers (2), tied for the lead in draw controls (4) with fellow freshman Hayley Sofarnos (Williamstown, Australia), and collected two ground balls.
In the starting line-up for all four games this season, Fernandez leads the Nittany Lions in points with 11, is tied for tops in goals with eight, and is second in draw controls (8).
Fernandez and the Nittany Lions will wrap up their three-game homestand next weekend when ACC power No. 9 Virginia visits Happy Valley for a 1 p.m. match-up on Sun., March 7. The Cavaliers began the season with a surprising 15-11 home loss to Loyola but have rebounded with impressive wins over Richmond (17-8) and Syracuse (14-13). They will face No. 2 Maryland on Friday evening in College Park before meeting Penn State. The Lions hold a 4-16 all-time record versus Virginia, losing four straight in the series, including last season's 12-11 overtime heartbreaker in Charlottesville.