2018 Field Hockey Players of the Week

  • Nikki Simpao, Lynchburg, Sr., Forward
    October 29, 2018
    Simpao, a senior from Stafford, Va., picks up her second straight and third overall weekly award after leading Lynchburg to a pair of ODAC victories on the way to locking up the top seed in the upcoming ODAC tournament. Simpao registered seven points on the week, beginning with a pair of goals in a 3-1 win at Virginia Wesleyan. Her goals came in the 21st and 67th minutes with her first tally serving as the game-winner. She was back at it in the regular season finale against Washington and Lee as she scored the game's second goal in the 43rd minute and then assisted Isabella Eldridge on the third less than a minute later in the Hornets 4-1 win. For the season, Simpao leads the ODAC in points (56) and goals scored (21) and is second in assists (14).
  • Nikki Simpao, Lynchburg, Sr., Forward
    October 22, 2018
    Simpao, a senior from Stafford, Va., put together an 18-point week as Lynchburg picked up three ODAC victories to run its winning streak to seven straight games. Simpao opened with 12 points on five goals and two assists in a 9-0 triumph at Eastern Mennonite. The two assists gave her 46 for her career, setting a new Lynchburg record in surpassing the 45 helpers dished out by Allie Weir from 2007-10. Simpao then became the fifth Hornet to reach the 200 career point plateau with a goal and an assist in a 6-0 victory at Ferrum. She capped her week with a goal and an assist in a 4-0 triumph over Bridgewater. For the season, Simpao leads the ODAC in points (49) and goals (18) and is second in assists (13). Her career numbers stand at 204 points on 78 goals and 48 assists.
  • Jackie Lerro, Lynchburg, So., Forward
    October 15, 2018
    Lerro, a sophomore from Royersford, Pa., put together an 11-point week in helping Lynchburg to a trio of victories. Lerro, who has now scored in four straight games, opened her week wth two goals in a 4-1 non-conference win over Stevenson. She followed with the game's opening tally in a 4-1 ODAC win at Shenandoah. Lerro capped her performance with an assist of Nikki Simpao's opening goal and then notching Lynchburg's second and fifth goals in the Hornets 5-1 non-conference victory at Dickinson. For the season, Lerro is tied for the ODAC lead in goals scored (11) and is third in points (29) and assists (7).
  • Ali Bishop, Bridgewater, Jr., Goalkeeper
    October 08, 2018
    Bishop, a junior from Felton, Del., was strong in front of net as Bridgewater went 1-1 against the last two ODAC champions. Bishop made seven seven saves in her first game of the week at Shenandoah, a 2-1 overtime defeat. She made six saves in the second half to force the extra frame. Bishop went unbeaten in game two as she saved all five shots on goal by Washington and Lee on the way to recording a 1-0 shutout victory over the reigning ODAC champions. For the season, Bishop is tied for first in the ODAC in fewest goals allowed (7) and goals against average (1.22) and is third with an .821 save percentage.
  • Nikki Simpao, Lynchburg, Sr., Forward/Midfielder
    October 01, 2018
    Simpao, a senior from Stafford, Va., had a hand in four of Lynchburg's five goals scored last week against Roanoke College in league play and at York (Pa.) College in non-conference action. Simpao was the linchpin on all three goals in the Hornets 3-1 triumph over Roanoke. She scored the first two goals of the game and then assisted Brittany Claybaugh on the third tally to lock up a win in Lynchburg's conference opener. Simpao added her third goal of the week at York when her 54th minute marker put Lynchburg up 2-1 before the Spartan's scored twice late to post a 3-2 result. For the season, Simpao is tied for first in the ODAC in goals scored (9) and is second in points (21).
  • Taylor Hayes, Shenandoah, Jr., Midfielder
    September 24, 2018
    Hayes, a junior from Fredricksburg, Va., helped Shenandoah continue its successful start to the season with a 2-1 week to move to 7-2 on the season. Hayes registered nine total points on three goals and three assists. She notched one goal and one assist in each contest as the Hornets sandwiched a 4-3 loss at Mary Washington in which their comeback bid came up short between a pair of 3-2 victories over St. Mary's (Md.) and Wesley. Hayes currently leads the ODAC in points (23) and assists (9) and is second in goals scored (7).
  • Kayla Alderman, Shenandoah, Sr., Forward
    September 17, 2018
    Alderman, a senior from Lushun, Md., is the second straight Hornet to win the field hockey weekly award after helping Shenandoah to a pair of non-conference victories last week. Twice she found the back of the cage, first against Dickinson College as she scored the game-tying goal in an eventual 2-1 road victory. Alderman was back in the spotlight at Stevenson University. She broke a 2-2 tie in the 78th minute in overtime to propel the Hornets over the Mustangs, 3-2. Alderman now has 10 points on four goals and two assists, helping SU open the season 5-1.
  • Megan Stevens, Shenandoah, Jr., Defender
    September 10, 2018
    Stevens, a junior from Blairstown, N.J., played a major role in the Hornets two victories last week, pushing their overall record to 3-1 on the season. Stevens opened with a goal and an assist in Shenandoah's 10-0 whitewash of Hood College. She then stepped up on both offense and defense as SU defeated York College (Pa.) for just the second time in program history via a 2-1 scoreline. Stevens made a pair of defensive saves just four minutes apart at 41:06 and 45:23 on the clock to keep the Spartans' lead at 1-0. Kayla Alderman leveled the game at 1-all at 65:18, leading to Stevens securing the game-winner via an unassisted effort with 67:25 on the scoreboard. On the season, Stevens has notched five points on two goals and assist.
  • Ariyel Yavalar, Washington and Lee, Sr., Goalkeeper
    September 04, 2018
    Yavalar, a senior from Baltimore, Md., was under heavy fire all weekend as the 20th-ranked Generals took on a pair of national-caliber opponents, going 1-1 in the process. Yavalar faced 20 shots in a 1-0 overtime setback on the road at Johns Hopkins University, stopping seven shots along the way. She then spent another full-shift in front the Generals' cage in a 1-0 shutout of Kenyon College. She faced 16 shots in that outing, turning back all five on-goal.