Winthrop lacrosse goalie Girani picks up fourth weekly Big South award
Winthrop women’s lacrosse goalie Alaina Girani was named the Big South Defensive Player of the Week for her performances in three contests last week.
Girani, a freshman from Wirtz, Va., has now earned four weekly conference honors this year. This is her third defensive award and has also earned one freshman honor.
Girani went 3-0 this week with victories over Gardner-Webb, Campbell and Coastal Carolina. Against the Bulldogs on Monday, she allowed only one goal in 54 minutes played and helped pitch a first-half shutout. Friday against the Camels she made 11 saves while facing 26 shots.
In a low-scoring game against Coastal Carolina Sunday, Girani came up with multiple big saves to keep the Chanticleers from making any run. She finished with 10 saves and allowed only four goals.
Girani leads the conference and is 12th in the nation in save percentage and goals against average. She has a .490 save percentage and a 7.62 goals against average this season. In four conference games, she has a 4.98 goals against average and a .578 save percentage.
The Eagles head to Longwood on Friday and host Liberty on Sunday for senior day.
Softball
The Winthrop softball game vs. Presbyterian at Terry Field on Wednesday was moved up three hours and will begin at 3 p.m. due to rain in the forecast.
Women’s Tennis
Humberg named Big South freshman of year: Three Eagles received Big-South Conference accolades.
Mariana Humberg, a native of Sao Paulo, was selected as the Freshman of the Year. Humberg finished the season with a 12-9 overall record in singles play and a perfect 8-0 record at the No. 3 and No. 4 slots in Big South play. Playing at No. 1 doubles, Humberg paired with teammate Alice Garcia for a 10-3 overall record and 7-1 mark in league play. Humberg earned Big South Women’s Freshman of the Week mention three times this season and captured five first-place votes and 12 points for Freshman of the Year honors.
Along with Humberg, Garcia and Ekin Gunaysu have been selected on the All-Conference Singles Team. Garcia and Humberg were also chosen for the All-Conference Doubles Team. Gunaysu was additionally designated as a member of the All-Academic Team.
The Eagles (11-11) face UNC Asheville on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Big South Conference tournament at 3 p.m. in Asheville, N.C.
This story was originally published April 14, 2015 at 12:14 PM with the headline "Winthrop lacrosse goalie Girani picks up fourth weekly Big South award."