America East Conference Women's Lacrosse Weekly Awards Go To University of Albany's Jodi Battaglia & Christine Grueniger - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – University at Albany’s Jodi Battaglia has been selected America East Conference Player of the Week in women’s lacrosse, as announced on Monday, April 20 by the league office. Christine Grueniger was chosen the conference’s defensive player of the week.

A sophomore attack from Amherst, N.Y., Battaglia had five goals and three assists in last Saturday’s 19-9 victory over Stony Brook. UAlbany (8-7, AE 4-2) secured an America East postseason tournament berth for the third consecutive season. Battaglia’s career-high eight points represent the highest single-game total by a Great Dane since April 27, 2002. She is third on the team in scoring with 33 goals and four assists. Battaglia ranks ninth in the conference in goals per game with a 2.20 average.

Grueniger, a junior midfielder from Lindenhurst, N.Y., posted career-highs in ground balls (6) and caused turnovers (3), plus added two goals and one assist. She was heavily involved in first-half, six-goal run that wiped out a 4-2 deficit. Her intercepted clearing pass set up Battaglia’s go-ahead tally. Grueniger, who recently returned to the lineup after missing three games with a leg injury, recorded her highest scoring total since March 13th. She has 13 goals and five assists this season.

Paw Prints: The Great Danes matched their best-ever America East record with the win over Stony Brook ... UAlbany will be the second or third seed for the upcoming postseason conference tournament ... Boston University has wrapped up the regular-season title and will host the semifinals and championship on April 30 and May 2 at Nickerson Field ... UAlbany concludes its regular schedule at non-league opponent Le Moyne on April 25 ... Kayla Best scored three times against Stony Brook and extended her goal-scoring streak to 45 consecutive games, the nation’s second-longest mark ... Best is fifth in the conference in scoring with 52 points (41 goals, 11 assists) ...