Casey Sullivan is the latest first-year women's lacrosse player to emerge and was tabbed the MASCAC's Rookie of the Week after a 15-goal week. Sullivan's award is the second straight for Massachusetts Maritime Academy women's lacrosse, which had Anna Deely honored a week prior.

Any fan who has seen the Buccaneer women's lacrosse team play this year will agree that it is an exciting and improved squad. Led by veteran seniors Stephanie Hunt and Mikayla Correia, the story in recent weeks has been the emergence of a new generation of Bucs that includes eight youngies in the starting lineup. After Deely's noteworthy performance last week, it was team-leading goal-scorer Sullivan who got the nod.

Sullivan from Sagamore Beach, Mass., had an impressive three-game run for Head Coach Marc Palombo, firing home 15 goals and winning eight draw controls. Sullivan shot 22 times last week, hitting the target an eye-popping 95 percent of the time.

"I am honored to be named Rookie of the Week. I would like to say thank you to my coaches, captains, and teammates for constantly putting me in a situation to succeed," remarked Sullivan. "I am looking forward to a successful season and hoping to accomplish great things with my team over the next four years."

In an 18-1 victory at Becker, Sullivan fired home five goals on six shots, picking up six draw controls and two groundballs while committing only one turnover. Two days later, the youngie did all she good to singlehandedly propel the Buccaneers to victory, scoring seven of the team's 11 goals, including successful attempts on both of her free possession shots. Sullivan was 8-for-9 on shots and, once more, had only one turnover.

The first-year midfielder finished up the week with a hat trick at Salem State, hitting the goal on all seven of her attempts. Sullivan did not turn the ball over once in the 18-7 loss.

For the season, the Pope John Paul II High School graduate has a whopping 24 goals and four assists, leading the team in markers and coming in second to Hunt in points.

"I think Casey is coming into her own. This is what we expected of her when she said she was coming to Mass Maritime," explained Palombo. "I couldn't ask more of a freshman coming into a new system, she is performing well. If she can keep contributing and we can get the rest of the girls around her to contribute, we will in good shape. If she keeps playing like this, there could be postseason awards coming her way."

This week, the squad (4-4) will have a breather before recommencing MASCAC play on Saturday at noon at Worcester State (4-4).

Gabriel Fidler, Sports Information Associate