Nietsch Named Patriot League Rookie of the Week :: Nietsch is third Navy freshman, and sixth player overall, to win a weekly award

	Katrina Nietsch was named Patriot League Rookie of the Week after scoring six goals against Bucknell.

April 14, 2008

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Navy freshman Katrina Nietsch garnered Patriot League Women's Lacrosse Rookie of the Week for her role in two Navy wins last week. Nietsch is the third Navy freshman to win a weekly award, joining Meg Decker, who has won two Rookie of the Week honors and Caitlin Mandrin Hill, who has won two Defensive Player of the Week accolades. Nietsch becomes the sixth Mid to win a weekly award as upperclassmen Erin Rawlick, Mary Ruttum and Natalie Blandon have also won weekly awards for the Midshipmen.

Nietsch scored nine points (8 g, 1 a) in a pair of wins last week. She tallied three points (2 g, 1 a) in a 19-5 win over Howard last Wednesday, then erupted for a career-high six points (6 g) in an 18-11 win over Bucknell on Saturday. She netted four of Navy's seven goals in the first half, helping the Mids overcome an early 3-0 deficit by outscoring the Bison 18-8 in the final 57 minutes of the game. Nietsch added three ground balls and two draw controls in the two victories.

Nietsch, a 5-10 midfielder from New Canaan, Conn., currently ranks third on the team in goals (30), fifth in points (35), second in ground balls (31), fourth in draw controls (20) and third in caused turnovers (7). She is third on the team with 65 shots and has coverted five of her nine free-position opportunites.

The Bucknell win clinched a spot in the Patriot League Women's Lacrosse Tournament to be played at a site to be determined on April 25-27. Navy is in its first season of Division I lacrosse and currently own a 10-3 overall record, and is sporting a 10-game home winning streak. The Mids, with a little bit of help, could finish with the second seed in the upcoming tournament.

Navy will wrap up the home portion of its schedule with Senior Day on Wednesday, April 16, with a 4:00 pm start against Robert Morris at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Navy's four seniors (Natalie Blandon, Kaylene Klingenstein, Jessie Rosa and Amanda Towey) will be honored in a ceremony before the contest. Admission to the game is free.

# GO NAVY #