NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. – On Tuesday afternoon, the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) announced its weekly National Player of the Week award for the week ending on May 2. Sophomore attacker
Rachel Delate received the honor, making it her second NCAA DIII Offensive Player of the Week award this season.
Delate, who was named MAC Commonwealth Player of the Week for the fourth time this season yesterday morning, earned national recognition after helping the Falcons claim their eighth conference championship in program history with a 17-10 home victory over York College (Pa.) on Saturday afternoon. The sophomore attacker finished with a game-high nine points, scoring five goals and adding four assists.
The championship game effort from Delate earned her MAC Commonwealth Tournament Most Valuable Player, becoming the first player in program history to record 50 goals and 50 assists in a single season, tying the program record for points in a single season (108). Throughout the three games of the MAC Commonwealth Tournament, Delate accumulated 12 goals and 11 assists.
On the season, Delate has accumulated 55 goals and 53 assists, both team-high marks. Delate's 55 goals is a conference-leading mark in the MAC Commonwealth, as her offensive contributions have the Falcons ranked first in the conference in goals per game (18.13), assists per game (8.94), and points per game (27.06). Messiah's goals per game number is ranked tenth in the nation heading into the NCAA Tournament.
With an undefeated record of 16-0, Messiah begins its quest on the National Stage as the top-ranked team in the region. The Falcons will compete in their ninth NCAA Tournament in program history and will play the winner of Illinois Wesleyan-George Fox in the Second Round on Sunday afternoon in Memphis, Tenn.
